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.
Sharing an image of the
Welcome home! 🇨🇿
C-390 Millennium aircraft arrives in the Czech Republic. Each new machine means increased ability to transport soldiers, equipment and materials to where they are needed.✈️ pic.twitter.com/gRnle3L35t
— Czech Army (@ArmadaCR) July 6, 2026
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.
Two Jas 39 Gripen Cs from the 211th Tactical Squadron provided an honorary escort to the Czech Air Force’s new C-390 Millennium as it entered Czech airspace. pic.twitter.com/cBx9j5bGn2
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 8, 2026
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.’
Check out the best images of the maiden flight of the first C-390 Millennium aircraft ordered by the Czech Air Force. The NATO standard aircraft will strengthen and modernize the country’s operational capabilities to enable it to carry out a wide range of missions. pic.twitter.com/AjMgVWGhu9
— Embraer (@embraer) May 25, 2026
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.
📸 24th Transportation AFB, CzAF, Tereza Dudová pic.twitter.com/uSgqRHrFq5
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 7, 2026
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.
The first of the ACR Air Force’s C-390 Millenium Embraers has just landed in Ruzyna. It was flown from the manufacturer’s factory in Brazil. The new flagship of the convoy can carry up to 26 tons of cargo and accommodate 80 passengers or 64 fully armed paratroopers. A plane full of luggage arrives… pic.twitter.com/qRNvyqO2XT
— Vojtěch Očadlý (@vojtaocadly) July 6, 2026
The first Embraer C-390 Millennium for the Czech Army has arrived in Prague.
The plane can accommodate up to 80 passengers and has a cruising speed of approximately 870 km/h. With a payload of 14 tonnes, the Embraer has a range of approximately 5,000 km, with additional tanks providing a range of up to 8,000 km. The unique camouflage is designed as follows: pic.twitter.com/Lsiu3xaFNK
— Georgi Bidenko (@georgibidenko) July 6, 2026
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.”
📍Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, #CzechRepublic(🇨🇿)
The first @ArmadaCR C-390 Millennium has arrived in the country after delivery from #Brazil (🇧🇷).
📸: Prague Airport https://t.co/NRlBrgkefm pic.twitter.com/TK6i8bHbzS
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) July 6, 2026
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.”
