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Portugal to bring C-390 Millennium as a prospect for the Czech Air Force’s transport aviation

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days will once again offer visitors a closer look at the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft developed by Embraer. At Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, the Portuguese Air Force will present the tanker variant KC-390 as part of Saturday’s static display.

The primary development goal of this aircraft was to create a multi-purpose platform capable of carrying out a wide range of missions. Depending on its configuration, it can transport cargo weighing up to 26 tons, provide aerial refueling, or carry up to 80 troops. Its robust design allows it to operate from short and unpaved runways, making it suitable for demanding conditions.

“Less than 24 hours remain until the weekend event, yet we are announcing another highlight. For only the second time in the history of NATO Days, Portugal will appear at Mošnov Airport - this time debuting its C-390 Millennium aircraft,” commented Zbyněk Pavlačík, the event’s chief organizer. “The jubilee 25th edition is marked by the modernization of the Czech Armed Forces, and we are especially pleased to have secured a presentation of the future of Czech transport aviation.”

The Czech Republic is directly involved in the production of the C-390 through Aero Vodochody. The company supplies, for example, the rear fuselage sections, paratroop and crew doors, emergency exits and hatches, as well as the cargo ramp. In this way, Czech aviation is directly contributing to a program that has the potential to be integrated into the armed forces of several other NATO countries.

In 2023, Portugal became the second country - after Brazil - to introduce this transport aircraft into active service, thanks to its active participation in the aircraft’s development. It is gradually entering service in other countries as well, such as Hungary, Austria, and the Netherlands. Moreover, it holds European civil certification, and its operational capabilities have been tested under a wide range of conditions, from tropical climates to arctic environments.

See you at
the NATO Days in Ostrava
& Czech Air Force Days!