RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is in the final stages of testing the Embraer KC-390, the largest military aircraft ever developed and produced in Brazil.
Sturdy, the aircraft resembles the classic Hercules C-130, a military plane for carrying troops and cargo. However, the KC-390 was developed to meet higher demands than those already met by Hercules.
Developed by Embraer Defesa e Segurança, the KC-390 can operate in various settings and unpaved landing tracks.
After the end of the test phase, it will be able to carry out cargo and military missions, drop paratroopers, in-flight refueling, assist in humanitarian missions, fight forest fires, search and rescue, and medical emergency evacuation. Its maximum speed is 570 km/h.
Its transport capacity is quite a feature. It is 18.5 meters long, 3.45 meters wide and 2.95 meters high for carrying up to 23 tonnes of cargo. The KC-390 can accommodate armored vehicles, artillery parts, large equipment, weaponry, and even other aircraft.
The KC-390 has a flight range of 2,730 kilometers at full load. High flight autonomy will be an asset in search missions. Without cargo, the plane can travel 5,958 km.
According to the Brazilian Air Force, 28 units have been ordered for its fleet. The first two will be delivered later this year and will be stationed on a base in Anápolis, state of Goiás.
Before that, however, the units will undergo inspection to ensure that its equipment is ready for full operation. Due to the aircraft’s multifunctional nature, pilots were chosen from different professional specialties, such as transport, fighter, and patrol.
“The purpose is that we may add aviation expertise and combine it with the aircraft so that it may be ready to perform the tasks that the Brazilian Air Force requires,” said Major Airman Carlos Vagner Veiga, one of the pilots selected to perform the KC-390 operation, in an interview with FAB.