Page 34 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

34 DEFENCE BUSINESS
C-390 MILLENNIUM
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
NIGEL PITTAWAY
distribution centres for parts and spares, and more than 70 storage locations, which are interconnected to ensure es- sential parts are always available, wherever and whenever they are needed. In addition, Australia is a familiar market for Embraer and aircraft such as the E-Jets [E170-E190] commercial aircraft and business jets such as the Phenom 300E operate in the country.”
Caetano added that Embraer is used to working with military operators around the globe and understands that specific support and maintenance requirements by the op- erator may call for local support capability development and deployment. “Embraer is open to working with the customer to develop customised solutions that boost the confidence and cooperation for the operator,” he stated.
TANKER CAPABILITY
Like the A400M, the C-390 can be fitted with optional role equipment in a matter of hours, allowing it to become a tactical tanker and is designated KC-390 for these mis- sions. The first wet contacts were made in 2019, using Bra- zilian Air Force F-5 and A-1M combat aircraft leading up to certification. Since then, Embraer has also certified the KC-390 itself as a receiver and the capability became op- erational with the Brazilian Air Force during 2022.
“Each pod provides fuel transfer of up to 400 US gal- lons per minute. Removable auxiliary fuel tanks can be in- stalled in the cargo compartment to expand the aircraft fuel offload capacity or range performance,” Caetano explained.
“It demonstrates excellent characteristics for aerial refuel- ling with low levels of vibration and higher speeds to reduce the workload for the receiver pilots. The aircraft can accom- modate the speed and altitude requirements of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft flying at speeds from 120 KCAS to 300 KCAS from 2,000ft to 32,000ft. This is largely achieved thanks to its V2500 engines, which give it a cruising speed
recently demonstrated during Operation ‘Cooperación VII’ involving a combined air component from the US, Canada, Chile, Honduras, Colombia and Brazil and military con- tingents from eight other countries. He said a total of 36 missions were carried out by the C-390, ranging from aero logistics transport missions to airdrops, with the aircraft demonstrating 100 percent availability, despite operating from airfields with vastly different elevations, from 570ft (174m) to 8,400ft (2,560m).
“The C-390 has been and always will be an effective competitor to the C-130. It provides significantly improved mobility, load capacity, speed, genuine multi-mission ca- pability with rapid re-configuration, reduced workload, and flight safety; in other words, it is an aircraft genuinely matched to the demands of the 21st Century operating en- vironment,” Caetano said.
“It is important to highlight that the Brazilian Air Force, recognising Embraer’s commercial credentials, demanded unprecedented levels of availability under-
pinned by exceptional levels of reliability
of 0.8 Mach, the highest of any aircraft in its category, enabling it to conduct aerial refuelling missions at the speed most suit- able to the receiver aircraft. It also has an impressive range of more than 4,500 nauti- cal miles with fuselage tanks.”
Most recently, Embraer partnered with L3 Harris in September 2022 to develop the KC-390 into an ‘agile tanker’, fitted with a boom refuelling system as well as the wing pods, to address the US Air Force’s ‘Joint Force’ refuelling needs.
and a significantly reduced maintenance regime for the C-390.”
SUSTAINING THE C-390 IN THE INDO PACIFIC
From a support perspective Caetano said that the C-390 combines proven systems from established suppliers and these sys- tems are also in operation in other aircraft around the world.
“EMBRAER ALSO BELIEVES
THAT AIR FORCES ALREADY RECOGNISE A SHIFT IN CULTURE REGARDING AVAILABILITY AND REDUCED OPERATING AND LIFE-CYCLE COSTS”
“This expertise, together with a support network of more than 80 MROs, 10+ owned service centres, a further 80 or more authorised service centres, and well in excess of 200 field support representatives, demonstrate the depth and breadth of Embraer’s commitment to the C-390 platform,” he said.
“Embraer’s Material Solutions business supports a global fleet of more than 4,000 aircraft. It has a network of nine
ABOVE: The C-390 Millennium has a modern Collins Pro Line fusion flight deck
The aircraft will also feature mission systems to support agile basing and sustainment as well as resilient communi- cations capabilities to support Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) requirements.
“USAF strategic planners have stated agile combat em- ployment will require refuelling platforms optimised to support a disaggregated approach to air dominance in con- gested logistics environments,” L3 Harris CEO Christo- pher Kubasik said. “Collaborating with Embraer to develop and integrate new capabilities to the KC-390 provides a cost-effective, fast-to-field solution that embodies our trusted disruptor approach.” ■