Israel’s Elbit Techniques has proven an idea of a specialised variant of the C-390 Millenium for ISR and SIGINT on the Singapore Airshow.
Israeli protection firm Elbit Techniques has revealed on the ongoing Singapore Airshow it’s engaged on an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Alerts Intelligence (SIGINT) model of the Embraer C/KC-390 Millenium cargo plane. Aviation Week additional revealed a picture of a small scale mannequin on the exhibition and quoted Elbit officers in deep background saying the corporate is “pursuing the market to make use of the Embraer C-390 as an airborne intelligence platform.”
Additionally, in the course of the airshow on Feb. 3, Embraer introduced that South Korea’s first C-390 “reached the ultimate stage of its meeting course of,” and likewise recognized Uzbekistan as one of many beforehand undisclosed patrons of the plane. Together with Brazil, the C-390 can also be utilized by Sweden, Portugal, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Hungary, whereas future prospects are the Netherlands, Slovakia and Austria. The addition of South Korea and Uzbekistan brings the overall variety of C-390 customers to 11.
On the 71st anniversary of the @fap_pt (🇵🇹), the air demonstration of the @embraer KC-390 revealed the official deployment of 2x @ElbitSystemsLtd wing tip digital warfare pods. pic.twitter.com/ZpSY5iHxum
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) July 4, 2023
Elbit’s airborne intelligence and maritime patrol missionized C-390
Whereas Elbit executives didn’t reveal the potential purchaser of the brand new variant, the report mentioned the mannequin confirmed the SIGINT idea has an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) ball turret and digital warfare programs. Each the video and the picture of the mannequin revealed by Aviation Week additionally present the presence of a pod put in underneath the chin, which resembles the MS-110 Multispectral Airborne Reconnaissance System.
The EO sensor could possibly be both one of many turret-like constructions on the fairing housing the port (left-side) touchdown gear. A number of fin antennas are additionally seen, doubtless associated to the EW/SIGINT suite, in addition to Communications and Digital Intelligence (COMINT/ELINT).
Elbit has labored on the C-390 earlier than, putting in its digital countermeasures (ECM) and self-defensive missile, radar and infrared warning sensors on Portuguese C-390s after a 2019 order, and is on contract since Dec. 10, 2024 for future Dutch and Austrian C-390s.
Elbit lately portrayed the C-390 in a maritime state of affairs in an idea video revealed on Jan. 13, 2026, the place the plane was appearing as a part of an built-in naval sensing, detection, monitoring, communication, digital warfare community. The missionized C-390 is proven working in live performance with pleasant floor combatants, Unmanned Floor Vessels, and long-endurance ISR drones in destroying hostile USVs, shore-fired anti-ship missiles and enemy drone swarms.
The January Elbit video additionally reveals the plane carrying the SPEAR Superior Digital Counter-Measures (AECM) pods underneath the wings. We had reached out to each Embraer and Elbit in January relating to the idea video and, lately, in regards to the Singapore Airshow unveiling for extra particulars, and can replace this story after we obtain a response.
It’s doable that the January rendition could possibly be loosely associated to the SIGINT, ISR and EW idea revealed on the Singapore Airshow. The slight divergences within the sensor configuration and outfitting can be presumably frozen till the corporate identifies a possible buyer.
📍#Brazil (🇧🇷)@embraer & @fab_oficial have signed agreements at the moment in collaboration on growing the C-390 within the ISR function, with a particular emphasis on maritime patrol.
The venture has additionally gained the title C-390 IVR. pic.twitter.com/OB4tbUJEhg
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) December 3, 2024
Curiously, the Brazilian Air Drive (Força Aérea Brasileira – FAB) and Embraer have been working collectively since 2024 to develop a devoted Maritime Patrol Plane (MPA) model, designated the C-390 IVR.
Elbit’s EW and self-protection suites
As talked about earlier, Elbit introduced on Oct. 31, 2019, that it had been contracted by Portugal in a $50 million award to combine its full ECM and self-protection suite on the Portuguese Air Drive’s (PtAF) KC-390s. Elbit on the time had mentioned it included the entire EW suite, comprising “radar and laser warning programs, IR Missile Warning System, Countermeasures Dishing out System, a Directional IR Countermeasures (DIRCM) system and Lively ECM (AECM) POD system.”
Bekannt und auf jeder Airshow geschätzt sind die Flare-Selbstschutz-Systeme.Sie sollen die Erfassung erschweren oder unterbrechen. Gegen echte Excessive-Tech-Raketen komme sie aber an ihre Grenzen.Es geh aber noch besser…viel besser…🤓2/5 pic.twitter.com/8x2aPeXKDJ
— Martin Rosenkranz🇦🇹🇪🇺🇺🇳🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@MartinRosenkra3) December 10, 2024
The work was to be accomplished over a five-year interval, and by Jul. 5, 2023, photos emerged of the official deployment of the 2 pods in an aerial demonstration. Then, on Dec. 10, 2024, Elbit introduced two contracts with two unnamed European nations, collectively valued at $175 million, which included Self-Safety Suites for the C-390 plane of 1 European nation, and an “Superior EW suite” for the C-390 of one other European NATO member. Observers concluded these nations to be the Netherlands and Austria.
DIRCM-Systeme entdecken die IR-Signatur des Raketenmotors.3/5 pic.twitter.com/Fx7qhCnvwm
— Martin Rosenkranz🇦🇹🇪🇺🇺🇳🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@MartinRosenkra3) December 10, 2024
Elbit went on to determine the EW system as its SPEAR AECM pod, “which could be simply put in and transferred between plane on the flight line.” It listed the self-protection programs because the “Digital Radar Warning Receiver, IR Missile Warning System (MWS), Laser Warning System (LWS), Countermeasure Dispenser System (CMDS), and the MUSIC household DIRCM System.”
Elbit’s J-MUSIC DIRCM system, a part of the MUSIC household of sensors that disrupt the seeker heads of incoming missiles with directed vitality, additionally equips a part of Germany’s A400Ms. The Luftwaffe (German Air Drive) acquired its first plane outfitted with the system in September 2025.
Weitere Bestandteile des Kits sind Radar-Warnempfänger, Laser-Warnempfänger sowie der “SPEAR” Pod für elektronische Gegenmaßnahmen (“Jammer”).
Das Selbstschutzsystem ist additionally in der Lage eine Vielzahl von Bedrohungen aufzuspüren, zu analysieren und abzuwehren.5/5 pic.twitter.com/sIqpxqzIxO
— Martin Rosenkranz🇦🇹🇪🇺🇺🇳🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@MartinRosenkra3) December 10, 2024
Uzbek and South Korean C-390s
In the meantime, on Feb. 3, after figuring out Uzbekistan as a brand new C-390 buyer that it had beforehand not disclosed, Embraer mentioned it’s the first nation in Central Asia to turn out to be the Millennium’s operator, validating its success within the “navy transport market phase.” Neither Embraer nor stories from Uzbekistan specify the variety of airframes the nation has sought.
The primary Dutch 🇳🇱 pilots & loadmasters efficiently accomplished their #C390 coaching at the moment on the Portuguese AF 🇵🇹 Sqn506, marking the first step in introducing RNLAF’s successor to the @LockheedMartin C130. 1st/5 🇳🇱 C390s will likely be acquired in late 2027📷 @Kon_Luchtmacht pic.twitter.com/cmLOC1BpPI
— Paulo Mata (@ironbirdphotos) February 3, 2026
“We formally welcome the Republic of Uzbekistan to the group of C-390 operators because the Uzbekistan Air Drive modernizes its transport capabilities”, mentioned Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Protection & Safety. The identical day Embraer additionally introduced the primary of Republic of Korea Air Drive’s (RoKAF) C-390s reaching the ultimate stage of meeting, previous to “manufacturing flights earlier than the mixing of particular programs.”
NOTÍCIA | Embraer apresenta o primeiro C-390 Millennium da Força Aérea da República da Coreia. Leia notícia completa: pic.twitter.com/9V1sT2yqMr
— Embraer (@embraer) February 3, 2026
Embraer was chosen in 2023 after aggressive bidding for the RoKAF’s Giant Transport Plane (LTA-II) program for 3 plane, as we reported on the time right here at The Aviationist. making it the primary buyer within the Asia-Pacific area. Embraer additionally has partnerships with native South Korean corporations Aerospace Expertise of International (ASTG), EM Korea (EMK), and Kencoa Aerospace to fabricate spares and elements.
