Czech Air Force Receives First C-390 Millennium Transport Aircraft

Czech Air Force Receives First C-390 Millennium Transport Aircraft

Czech Air Force Receives First C-390 Millennium Transport Aircraft

The Czech Republic received the first of two C-390 Millenniums ordered from Embraer in 2024, with the second aircraft expected to arrive in 2027-2028.

The Czech Air Force took delivery of its first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft on July 6, 2026, when it landed at the 24th Transport Air Base in Prague-Kveli. The aircraft is the first of two C-390s ordered by the Czech Republic in October 2024 as part of a CZK 11.3 billion ($508 million) contract.

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In a separate short update, the Czech Armed Forces (Armáda české Republiky) and the Ministry of Defense (Ministerstvo Obrany) identified the aircraft with its official local designation, KCV-390 Millennium.

Embraer announced the first flight of the CzAF C-390 on May 25. Unveiling the aircraft on June 13, 2026, after completing the paint job at its Brazilian facility, Embraer said the special three-color gray camouflage was designed by academic painter Pavel Holý of the Prague Institute of Military History.

At the time, the Czech Ministry of Defense said the initial deployment of six pilots, six flight engineers and 12 ground engineering personnel was in Brazil as part of a two-month training package. “After the aircraft arrives in the Czech Republic, training will continue for six months under the supervision of Brazilian instructors.” Flight Global The report cited the Czech Ministry of Defense.

C-390 in Czech service

Embraer previously said the two C-390s for the CzAF would be “NATO standard” aircraft when it signed a contract with the Czech Ministry of Defense in October 2024. They can perform a wide range of roles, including ‘tactical transport of troops, vehicles, and equipment, medical evacuation, firefighting, disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and air-to-air refueling.’

According to Embraer, the C-390 has a maximum payload of 26 tons and a top speed of 470 knots. With the addition of the “Rapid Deployment Aerial Refueling (AAR) system” the C-390 becomes the KC-390 and adds the ability to refuel aircraft with hose-and-drogue systems like the Gripen in service with the CzAF.

The C-390 acquisition also involves significant participation from the local Czech defense industry, with Embraer saying in October 2024 that the procurement “will have a positive impact on the local aerospace industry and significantly increase the program’s production share.” This includes the leading edge of the wings and the rear fuselage manufactured by Aero Vodochody.

The statement also quoted then-Defense Minister Yana Chernokova as saying, “Past and present history clearly shows that the military must be able to transport people and heavier cargo over longer distances. The withdrawals from Afghanistan and Sudan are clear evidence of this. I am therefore very pleased that we have been able to secure aircraft for the Air Force capable of performing these missions.”

Czech defense news outlet CZ DefenseThe second aircraft is expected to arrive between 2027 and 2028, and there are plans to increase the fleet in future years to ensure a “minimum threshold for a truly sustainable and operational fleet,” it said.

The report added that the current contract also includes other equipment and materials such as “simulators, training and maintenance facilities, large sets of spare parts, operations and maintenance planners, equipment for special operations, firefighting and refueling kits, equipment for refueling ground vehicles, air ambulance modules, and equipment for search and rescue operations.” The Czech Air Force (CzAF) also operates six C-295 tactical transport aircraft and four compact twin turboprop Let L-410 UVP-E/UVP-T turbolets for short-haul passenger and cargo transport.

Support agreements with European companies

Being the fifth European and NATO member operator of this type, the CzAF will be able to share maintenance and repair resources within the continent, reducing costs and easing logistics. This is especially true if Embraer has support and technology transfer agreements signed with other European countries.

On June 25, 2026, the Brazilian company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoA) with Poland’s leading aerospace maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) company Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 SA (WZL-2), a subsidiary of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa Group (PGZ).

The statement said the “strategic agreement” includes industrial collaboration between the two companies on “services and support (..) related to the KC-390.” WZL-2 and Embraer said they would “jointly prepare a broad framework for future cooperation covering a wide range of capabilities in service and support, aircraft completion and conversion, external painting and systems integration.”

The press release quotes WZL-2 Board of Directors Chairman Jakub Gazda as saying, “Our goal is to develop industrial and maintenance capabilities to support KC-390 Millennium operations in Poland, while strengthening the country’s aerospace and defense capabilities. We believe that combining Embraer’s experience with WZL-2’s expertise will bring concrete benefits to the Polish Armed Forces and the entire Polish defense industry.”

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