Greece has signed the contract for three Embraer KC-390 Millennium military transports, completing an acquisition process that had already received government approval in July. The agreement includes options for three additional aircraft, with the first KC-390 scheduled for delivery to the Hellenic Air Force in 2027.
The contract was signed on November 2 through a government-to-government agreement with Portugal, which will acquire the aircraft and associated equipment from Embraer for Greece.
The unusually short delivery schedule raises questions about the origin of Greece's first aircraft. With the contract signed only in November 2026, a KC-390 scheduled for delivery in 2027 would likely already be at some stage of production.
Embraer has not disclosed the aircraft's serial number or whether an existing production slot has been reassigned. One possibility is that the first Greek KC-390 was originally intended for the Portuguese or Brazilian air force, although there is currently no confirmation that this is the case.
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Such a move would not be unprecedented. The first C-390 delivered to Uzbekistan in 2026 was originally built for the Brazilian Air Force as FAB 2861 before being transferred to the Central Asian customer. Embraer did not publicly explain the reassignment.
The deal follows more than three years of evaluations and negotiations. Embraer first demonstrated the KC-390 to the Hellenic Air Force at Elefsina Air Base in June 2023, followed by additional presentations as Greece evaluated replacements for its aging C-130 Hercules fleet.
By May 2026, the choice was becoming clear. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed negotiations with Portugal for the aircraft, and later that month Embraer and Hellenic Aerospace Industry signed an agreement to establish maintenance and support capabilities for what the Brazilian manufacturer described at the time as Greece's future C-390 fleet.
Greece formally submitted the acquisition of three aircraft to Parliament in June, and the Government Council for National Security, known as KYSEA, approved the purchase in July, along with the possibility of three additional KC-390s.
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Portugal approved its side of the transaction on October 22, clearing the way for the contract signed on Monday.
Portugal acts as intermediary
The Portuguese government authorized expenditure of nearly €590 million (US$680 million) for the Greek program, which will be fully funded by Greece.
Of that amount, approximately €533 million covers the three aircraft and an initial support package contracted from Embraer and Embraer Portugal. The remainder covers items including electronic warfare equipment, training, technical support and program management.
The arrangement also allows Greece to use infrastructure and experience already developed by Portugal, the first European operator of the KC-390. Greek crews and technicians are expected to receive initial training at Beja Air Base.
The aircraft will strengthen a transport fleet that has struggled with availability in recent years. Greece operates aging C-130B/H Hercules aircraft as well as Leonardo C-27J Spartans. In November 2025, Dendias said five C-130s were operational, up from a previous low of just one available aircraft.
The KC-390 can carry up to 26 metric tons (57,300 lb) of payload and has a maximum cruise speed of 470 knots. Greece is acquiring the KC-390 configuration, which can use removable equipment to perform air-to-air refueling missions in addition to tactical and logistical transport.
Portugal received its first KC-390 in 2023 and has since accumulated operational experience with the type. Portuguese industry also participates in the aircraft's production, including structures manufactured by Embraer Portugal in Évora.
