C-390 Millennium ASIAN TOUR in Thailand

04 Mei 2024

Brazilian Embraer KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft departed from Singapore Changi Airport and arrived at Don Mueang Airport on 25 February 2024 (all photos: Defense Info)

On 25 February 2024, a C-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft flew from Changi Airport and arrived at Don Mueang Airport in the morning after participating in the aviation exhibition  Singapore Airshow held from 20-25 February. 

This is the first visit to Don Mueang Airport by a new transport aircraft designed and manufactured by Embraer. Brazilian aviation industry company C-390 is a medium-sized transport aircraft, with two engines using the IAE V2500 turbofan jet engine.

It is currently in use in three countries: Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary, with orders confirmed for another four, bringing the total on order to 35, with nine already delivered.

Before the scheduled visit to the United States and Sweden The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force visited Brazil in April 2024, which included a business visit to Embraer Company, which is marketing the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force.

After participating in the Singapore Airshow 2024 exhibition, the Brazilian Air Force KC-390 aerial transport and refueling aircraft arrived at Don Mueang Airport on February 25, 2024, where it was visited by Royal Thai Air Force officials. and the mass media.

That has led to reports that the Royal Thai Air Force is interested in the Brazilian C-390 transport aircraft as an option to replace the C-130H Hercules transport aircraft, Squadron 601, Wing 6, Don Mueang, that will compete with the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, which Lockheed Martin has long offered.

Customers of the Embraer KC-390 Millennium aerial transport and refueling aircraft are growing in number. In addition to the Brazilian Air Force, the producing country has ordered 19 aircraft, of which 6 have been delivered. Export customers include Portugal, which has received 5 aircraft and has received 1 aircraft, Hungary 2 aircraft, the first aircraft just arrived in Hungary on 12 April 2024, the Netherlands 5 aircraft, Austria 4 aircraft, Czech Republic 2 aircraft, and the Republic of Korea quantity not disclosed, becomes first customer in Asia Pacific.

According to data from Janes Markets Forecast, the Brazilian KC-390 has a per-plane price of $67 million, compared to the U.S. C-130J-30 per plane of $91 million and the European Airbus A400M Atlas of $192 million per plane.

In addition to its tactical transport capabilities, the KC-390 will also support aerial refueling of Swedish Gripen fighter jets stationed in Thailand, Brazil, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. If the C-390 is able to succeed in Thailand, it will increase more credibility in the market.

However, just like the new fighter aircraft project to replace F-16A/B ADF, Squadron 102, Wing 1, the Thai government and parliament have not yet approved the budget for this fiscal year 2025. The new transport aircraft project to replace the C-130H that is outside the RTAF White Paper 2024 is also unlikely to receive budget approval.

In the 2024 budget that has already been approved, there will only be a project to improve the capability of the C-130H transport aircraft Phase 3, with a budget of 2,820,000,000 baht ($76,093,86), continuing from  Phase 1 and Phase 2 have already been completed. It means that the Royal Thai Air Force will continue to use all 12 of its C-130Hs for a long time.

(AAG)

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