Uzbekistan becomes first Central Asian operator of Brazil's Embraer C-390 transport aircraft.

Embraer confirmed Uzbekistan as a C-390 Millennium customer on February 3, 2026, at the Singapore Airshow, making the Uzbek Air Force the first C-390 operator in Central Asia.

On February 3, 2026, at the Singapore Airshow, Brazil's Embraer confirmed the Republic of Uzbekistan as the customer behind a previously undisclosed order for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The confirmation formally establishes the Uzbek Air Force as a new operator and makes Uzbekistan the first country in Central Asia to select the C-390 for transport and humanitarian missions.
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The C-390 operator list now includes a total of 11 countries: Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Uzbekistan. (Picture source: Hungarian Air Force)

With Uzbekistan’s confirmation, the C-390 operator list now includes a total of 11 countries, covering current, future, and announced customers. Brazil originally ordered 28 C-390s in 2014, later reduced to 22, with deliveries beginning in September 2019. Portugal ordered five aircraft in 2019, later adding a sixth in 2025, with deliveries starting in October 2022, while Hungary ordered two aircraft in 2020 and began receiving them in October 2023. Austria ordered four aircraft in 2023 with deliveries expected from 2026, the Czech Republic selected two aircraft in 2023 with deliveries planned from 2026, the Netherlands ordered five aircraft in 2022 with deliveries from 2027, Sweden ordered four aircraft in 2024, South Korea ordered three aircraft in 2023, Slovakia selected the aircraft in 2024 with negotiations ongoing, and Lithuania entered negotiations in 2025 for three aircraft.

The Uzbek Air Force currently operates a mixed transport fleet combining Soviet-era and Western-built aircraft, which the C-390 will likely supplement rather than replace immediately. According to the information available, the Uzbek Air Force equipment includes four EADS CASA C-295 medium transport aircraft used for regional airlift and support missions, as well as Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport aircraft forming the core of long-range and high-payload lift capability, although the exact number of Il-76 in service is not specified. The fleet also includes four Antonov An-26 tactical transport aircraft and two Antonov An-12 aircraft that remain in service despite their age.

The C-390 program began in the mid-2000s when Embraer launched development of a jet-powered medium military transport aircraft intended to meet airlift requirements traditionally fulfilled by turboprop aircraft. In 2008, the Brazilian government committed R$800 million (about $145 million) to support the program’s early development phase. This was followed in April 2009 by a $1.5 billion contract covering detailed development and the construction of two prototypes for the Brazilian Air Force. The first prototype conducted its maiden flight on February 3, 2015, marking the transition to flight testing, while serial production followed several years later. The first production aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force on September 4, 2019, and, in November 2019, the aircraft received the designation C-390 Millennium for international use.

Three principal variants are currently identified within the C-390 family. The baseline C-390 is configured for military transport missions, including cargo and troop transport, search and rescue, firefighting, and general airlift tasks. The KC-390 variant incorporates air-to-air refuelling equipment, enabling the aircraft to operate as a tanker supplying fuel to other aircraft while also retaining the ability to receive fuel in flight. This configuration supports extended-range missions and fleet interoperability. In December 2024, Embraer announced a C-390 IVR variant intended for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol roles. To date, this IVR version remains at the study and concept phase.

The C-390 is a high-wing, twin-engine aircraft powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines mounted under the wings, each generating 139.4 kN (31,330 lbf) of thrust. The Brazilian transport aircraft uses a fully fly-by-wire flight control system, replacing conventional mechanical controls. Its cockpit architecture is digital and includes head-up displays to support tactical and low-level operations. Mission systems are integrated to support rapid role changes between transport, evacuation, and special missions. The landing gear is equipped with low-pressure tires to distribute weight on semi-prepared surfaces. Engine placement is optimized to reduce foreign object ingestion during ground operations, enabling operations from paved, semi-prepared, and unpaved runways.

The C-390 Millennium has a length of 35.2 meters, a wingspan of 35.1 meters, and a height of 11.4 meters, placing it within the upper range of medium transport aircraft. The cargo hold is approximately 18.5 meters long, 3.45 meters wide, and 2.95 meters high, allowing for a maximum payload of 26,000 kilograms and a maximum takeoff weight of about 87,000 kilograms. The C-390 could reach a cruise speed of 470 knots, corresponding to roughly Mach 0.8 at altitude, and a maximum operating altitude of about 11,000 meters, while the range varies with payload, reaching over 2,000 kilometers with maximum load and extending beyond 6,000 kilometers with reduced cargo. In troop transport configuration, it can carry up to 80 personnel. Medical evacuation layouts allow the carriage of stretchers and medical staff. The aircraft also supports equipment and personnel airdrop operations using standardized systems.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.