The Embraer KC-390, with a payload capacity of 26 tons and a maximum speed of 870 kilometres per hour, is set to modernise the Colombian Air and Space Force’s air transport and aerial refuelling capabilities.
The Colombian Air and Space Force has reached an agreement with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for the procurement of two KC-390 multi mission heavy tactical military transport aircraft.
A Milestone in Aviation
These aircraft, which will serve as multi mission heavy tactical military transport platforms, will transform the country’s air transport capacity and aerial refuelling capabilities, contributing to the nation’s operational needs. The next generation KC-390 platforms can be used across a wide range of missions, including humanitarian aid, disaster response, cargo transport and airdrop, personnel and paratrooper insertion, and air to air refuelling in both day and night conditions.
Joint Operational Capability with Saab JAS 39 Gripen
The KC-390 aircraft will operate alongside the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters that Colombia is set to add to its inventory, enhancing the country’s joint operational capability. Thanks to the aircraft’s high compatibility with Colombia’s existing aviation infrastructure, various missions will be carried out more efficiently, with shorter response times and lower operating costs.
Embraer KC-390 Technical and Financial Parameters and Project Scope
The procurement was carried out following technical and market analyses conducted under the 2042 Air and Space Development Strategy, the foundations of which were laid in 2019. The FAC conducted a transparent and objective evaluation process based on operational, logistical and economic criteria for the modernisation of its heavy tactical military transport fleet. The total cost of the project for the KC-390, which has a maximum payload capacity of 26 tons and a top speed of 870 kilometres per hour, was announced as 366,430,371 US dollars. The contract, which will be implemented over the next four years, was structured with a fixed price model to protect the budget against inflation and market fluctuations.
According to the delivery schedule, the first aircraft is planned for delivery in 2029 and the second in 2030. The investment covers not just the two aircraft but also personnel training, mission equipment, ground support systems and two years of comprehensive logistics support.
Technology Transfer and Expanding Global Network
The Embraer KC-390 tactical military transport aircraft to be procured under the agreement also includes a comprehensive training and technology transfer programme for FAC pilots, maintenance technicians, simulation system operators and mission support personnel. With the entry into service of this military cargo aircraft model, the more than 35 year cooperation between the FAC and Embraer will enter a new phase. This partnership began with the T-27 Tucano and was strengthened with the introduction of the A-29 Super Tucano.
The new medium transport aircraft fleet, a platform that has proven its success internationally, has also been chosen by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Lithuania and Slovakia. With this procurement decision, the Colombian Air and Space Force has demonstrated its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and the development of new capabilities, aiming for a more modern, interoperable and future ready military aviation structure that will contribute to the country’s security, emergency response capacity and national welfare.
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Source: C4Defence- FAC
