MSPO 2025 — Embraer is showing off its KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft in the Brazilian company’s debut at MSPO in Poland, in hopes to draw Warsaw closer to a longstanding pitch.
“We see a lot of potential for the K-390 in Poland with the growth of forces, the needs for logistics and rapid employment of capabilities,” said Embraer’s Chief Marketing Officer Marcio Monteiro. “Agile combat employment is paramount and for the K-390, not only for Poland, but for other countries in the region.”
In Europe, Austria, Sweden, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have already placed orders for the KC-390. Both Slovakia and Lithuania — Poland’s neighbors — have announced intentions to sign on, and Hungary and Portugal are currently operating the platform. Brazil, South Korea and an unnamed customer round out the user base.
Following an April 2021 agreement for Poland to receive five Lockheed Martin-made C-130Hs — of which the Polish Armed Forces have received two — the Polish Air Force is looking for more multirole transport and refueling aircraft.
Embraer is offering local parts production, KC-390 systems Polonization, aircraft MRO, as well as establishing a European KC-390 tactical training center and aircraft completion/final assembly line.
“We believe some of the companies and some of the institutions in Poland can contribute with systems and maintenance for the airplanes. We see Poland as a strategic partner and we can elaborate on technical training centers established here in Poland,” Monteiro said.
Embraer’s Chief Commercial Officer Frederico Lemos added, “For the final assembly line, we look something around 20 airplanes that would be a good number. Depending on the amount of airplanes we’re talking, depending on the size of investment, Embraer continues to be open to that dialogue about a potential localization in Poland.”
According to representatives for Embraer, every airplane that leaves the assembly line comes with the provisions to become a tanker, and the end user can, as part of the acquisition process or later on, purchase the equipment to provide air-to-air refueling if needed.
“We are going to offer KC-390 to Poland both as transport aircraft [and] as a tanker. It will be benefit for the platform,” Monteiro said. Lead time for the aircraft delivery is usually about 30 months after the agreement signing, and depending on the customer’s requirement, could be faster, he noted.
The KC-390 is capable of transporting weapons systems currently in use by the Polish Armed Forces such as the Waran wheeled tactical armored multi-purpose vehicle, the Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carrier, the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and UH-60 multirole helicopter.
The Millenium will be also capable of refueling the FA-50PL, using a probe and drogue system, though the Polish Air Force’s main combat aircraft are F-16C/D Block 52+, and in the future will operate the F-35A, both of which use flying booms for air-to-air refueling.
“We have received a lot of interest also in the boom capability. We have made a study together with L3 in the past for this capability. And now we are looking at the needs of different countries, in particular for the US,” Lemos said. “So, we need to have, let’s say, a significant order or starting order to develop boom and to implement in the K-390.”
“We are here to present ourselves to response for Polish Air Force request and we want to be ready for that,” Embraer said.