The CEO of Defense and Security at Embraer, Bosco da Costa Jr., confirmed that the partnership between the Brazilian company and the American L3Harris to introduce the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft as the future refueling aircraft for the United States Air Force (USAF) will not move forward. In an interview with the specialized media outlet Breaking Defense, da Costa noted that L3Harris currently has other priorities, which has led to the end of the collaboration initiated in 2022.
This alliance, announced in 2022, envisioned L3Harris as the prime contractor, responsible for integrating U.S. mission systems into the C-390, equipped with a boom refueling system that would have turned the aircraft into a U.S. version of the KC-390 compatible with the U.S. Air Force’s combat and transport aircraft.
Future of the C-390 in the U.S. Market
Despite the end of the partnership, Embraer remains interested in positioning the C-390 in the U.S. market. Da Costa mentioned that the company could act as a prime contractor on its own, partner with other companies, or even explore mergers and acquisitions. Embraer continues to see an opportunity in the U.S. tanker aircraft market, especially with the accelerated program known as the Next Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS).
Competition and Challenges for the C-390 in the U.S.
Originally, when the collaboration with L3Harris was announced, the U.S. Air Force was following a refueling strategy known as KC-X, KC-Y, and KC-Z, which included acquisitions in several phases. However, this approach has been discarded in favor of the possible limited purchase of tanker aircraft to replace the aging KC-135s.
Regarding the competition that the C-390 would face in the U.S., experts indicated that Embraer would need to overcome several challenges. Tim Walton, a researcher at the Hudson Institute, pointed out that the C-390 would compete directly with Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, an aircraft that already has an established infrastructure and training programs in the United States.
Walton also mentioned that for the C-390 or the KC-390 to be considered options for the KC-135 Recapitalization Program, it would be necessary to review the performance parameters currently pursued by the Air Force. Still, the C-390 could complement the capabilities of the C-130 and C-17 in short-range and reduced mobility missions.
Embraer’s Presence in the U.S.
Despite the challenges, Embraer already has a considerable presence in the U.S. market. According to da Costa, the C-390 meets the requirements of the Buy America Act, which could facilitate its adoption. Additionally, the company is exploring options to increase its presence in the country, such as establishing a final assembly line for the C-390 on U.S. soil, which could be a crucial step in consolidating its position in the U.S. defense market.
You may also like: The U.S. has requested information from Saab regarding possible bribes in the purchase of F-39 Gripen jets by the Brazilian Air Force
