Given the success of the selection of the C-390 Millennium by the South Korean Air Force, the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer foresees a significant demand for this model in Asia, considering the need for numerous countries in the region to renew their medium transport aircraft.
Embraer emphasized the importance of South Korea’s decision and its impact on the company at a regional level. In this regard, Federico Lemos, Embraer’s Commercial Director for International Business, stated, “We are getting a lot of interest, and this is part of a larger opportunity.”
The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration selected the C-390 in December under the Large Transport Tactical Aircraft II program. The allocated budget of $544.4 million to be disbursed by 2026 includes the incorporation of at least three (3) units, although this number has not been officially confirmed.
While Embraer has not yet revealed potential customers, company representatives indicated that new clients could be disclosed in the first quarter. In line with this initiative, the plan is to present the C-390 at the Singapore Airshow to other countries in the region.
It is worth noting that Embraer recently signed a memorandum of understanding to partner with the Indian company Mahindra Defense Systems to offer the C-390 to the Indian Air Force. Given its category, the C-390 is a potential replacement for the medium transport aircraft Antonov AN32, operated by India.
On that occasion, the President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, Bosco da Costa Junior, noted, “India is a key market for Embraer, and we are very interested in establishing partnerships in the country that can further boost defense industries and capabilities. We look forward to engaging with India’s aerospace and defense ecosystem at this event.”
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