DefenseEmbraer has planned a major tour of the KC-390 Millennium in the United States, which is being gradually revealed by the company.
After stops in Las Vegas and the Kennedy Space Center, the multi-role aircraft is in Tampa participating in the Special Operations Forces Week (SOF Week) conference until Wednesday.
A Brazilian Air Force aircraft, registration FAB2855, has been used by Embraer for ground and flight demonstrations.
“The KC-390 offers an unbeatable value proposition that combines rapid mission reconfiguration capability with the latest technology as well as increased speed in the air and faster turnarounds which translates to enhanced operational efficiency and low life-cycle costs,” said Jake Williams, Vice President of Business Development North America for Embraer Defense & Security.
The Brazilian company has been stepping up its efforts to persuade the Trump administration to consider adopting the twin-engine jet, which is a competitor to Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Hercules turboprop.
In its promotional material, Embraer presents the KC-390 as a wide-ranging aircraft, capable not only of transporting cargo and performing aerial refueling, but also of supporting combat operations, offering agility in movement.
Promised assembly in the US
At the press conference to announce the results of the first quarter, Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto revealed that the KC-390 has one more stop on its tour in the US, the city of Washington, the country’s capital.
The CEO did not reveal what the schedule will be, but the company will certainly take advantage of the presence of key figures in the government to present the aircraft.
The main target of the effort is the United States Air Force (USAF), which is undergoing a major strategic change in its aircraft fleet, with the development of more stealth aircraft and also advanced drones.
Embraer, however, is using strong arguments to convince the service, such as the fact that 57% of the aircraft’s components are manufactured in the United States.
Gomes Neto also assured that if “the USAF orders it, the KC-390 will be assembled in the United States.” Embraer, however, does not yet have a partner for a potential program of this magnitude.
L3 Harris even joined forces with the company to offer the tanker aircraft, but the partnership was dissolved.
