Key facts
- Embraer secured a contract to sell two KC-390 Millennium aircraft to Colombia.
- The KC-390 will enhance Colombia's tactical transport and aerial refueling capabilities.
- The aircraft will be networked to operate alongside Colombia's new Gripen fighters.
- The deal includes mission equipment, integrated services, and an offset program.
- Colombia's air force fleet has a significant number of non-operational aircraft.
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer announced it has signed a contract with Colombia to sell two KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft. This acquisition is part of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's initiative to modernize the country's military fleet, which a government audit revealed has a significant portion of its aircraft grounded.
The KC-390 Millennium, a competitor to Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules, will enhance Colombia's tactical transport and aerial refueling capabilities. The aircraft will feature advanced networking technology enabling seamless operation alongside the country's newly acquired Gripen fighter jets. This deal marks Colombia as the first Latin American country beyond Brazil and the 13th globally to select Embraer's KC-390.
The comprehensive contract includes dedicated mission equipment, an integrated services and support package, and an offset program designed to meet Colombia's regulatory requirements. This agreement extends a partnership between Embraer and the Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (FAC) that dates back over 35 years, building on previous procurements of EMB-312 Tucano and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
President Petro's directive to finalize the purchase comes amid a broader debate about Colombia's defense sourcing and fits a foreign policy that emphasizes regional ties. The choice of Brazilian industry for a core military capability is seen as a political statement as much as a procurement decision, particularly given the state of the FAC's current fleet, where approximately half of its aircraft are non-operational.