Hungarian Air Force’s first C-390 Millennium is already flying

The Hungarian Air Force’s first C-390 Millennium successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday at Gavião Peixoto (Embraer’s headquarters). The Embraer Defense & Security team flew the aircraft for approximately 4 hours, conducting a full evaluation of the aircraft, which will now undergo a test campaign prior to entry into service with the Hungarian Armed Forces.

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“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the Hungarian C-390 program. The C-390 Millennium is receiving international recognition on the back of its remarkable operational performance and capabilities, and Embraer is ramping up production to address increasing market demand. It is an honor to work with the Hungarian Defence Forces in strengthening their capabilities with the best military airlift solution available. We are keen in further deepening this partnership with the Hungarian Defence Forces, and supporting them well into the future,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

In November 2020, the Hungarian government signed a contract with Embraer to acquire two C-390s. The Hungarian Defense Forces aircraft will be the first in the world to have an Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, an essential resource for carrying out humanitarian missions.

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Since its entry into service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, and more recently with the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has been demonstrating its capability, reliability and performance. The current fleet of aircraft in operation has accumulated more than 11,500 flight hours, with operational availability around 80% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.

Hungary is the third country to choose the C-390, after Brazil and Portugal. The Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and South Korea have also selected this multi-mission aircraft.