The Czech Republic acquired the primary of the 2 C-390 Millenniums ordered in 2024 from Embraer, with the second plane anticipated to reach in 2027-2028.
The Czech Air Drive acquired on Jul. 6, 2026 its first C-390 Millennium transport plane, when the aircraft landed on the twenty fourth Transport Air Drive Base in Prague-Kbely. The plane is the primary of two C-390s the Czech Republic ordered in October 2024 as a part of a CZK 11.3 billion ($508 million) deal.
Sharing the photographs on X, the Czech Armed Forces mentioned: “The C-390 Millennium plane has arrived within the Czech Republic. Each new plane means higher capabilities for transporting troopers, gear, and supplies the place they’re wanted.”
Vítej doma! 🇨🇿
Do České republiky přiletěl letoun C-390 Millennium. Každý nový stroj znamená větší schopnosti přepravy vojáků, techniky i materiálu tam, kde je potřeba.✈️ pic.twitter.com/gRnle3L35t
— Armáda ČR (@ArmadaCR) July 6, 2026
In a separate brief replace, the Czech Armed Forces (Armáda České Republiky) and the Ministry of Protection (Ministerstvo Obrany) recognized the plane with its official native designation, the KCV-390 Millennium.
Embraer introduced the CzAF C-390’s first flight on Might 25. Whereas revealing the plane on Jun. 13, 2026, following its paint job at its facility in Brazil, Embraer mentioned that the particular three-tone grey camouflage was designed by tutorial painter Pavel Holý from the Army Historical past Institute in Prague.
Two Jas 39 Gripen C from 211th tactical squadron supplied honorary escort for the brand new C-390 Millenium of the Czech Air Drive because it entered Czech Airspace pic.twitter.com/cBx9j5bGn2
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 8, 2026
On the time, the Czech MoD additionally mentioned that an preliminary batch of six pilots, six flight engineers and 12 ground-based engineering personnel have been in Brazil as part of a two-month coaching bundle. “After the plane arrives within the Czech Republic, coaching will proceed for one more six months below the supervision of Brazilian instructors,” FlightGlobal reported quoting the Czech MoD.
C-390 in Czech service
Embraer had beforehand mentioned in October 2024, on the event of signing the contract with the Czech MoD, that the 2 C-390s for the CzAF are “NATO-standard” plane. These can carry out a variety of roles together with “tactical transport of troops, automobiles, and gear, medical evacuation, firefighting, catastrophe administration, humanitarian assist, and air-to-air refueling.”
Try the most effective pictures of the maiden flight of the primary C-390 Millennium plane ordered by the Czech Air Drive. The NATO-standard plane will improve and modernize the operational capabilities of the nation with the ability to carry out a variety of missions. pic.twitter.com/AjMgVWGhu9
— Embraer (@embraer) Might 25, 2026
The C-390 has a most payload of 26 tons and a prime pace of 470 knots in response to Embraer. With the addition of a “speedy deployment aerial refueling (AAR) system,” the C-390 turns into the KC-390, including the potential to refuel plane with hose-and-drogue system, such because the Gripens in service within the CzAF.
There may be additionally a big native Czech protection industrial participation within the C-390 acquisition, with Embraer saying in October 2024 that the procurement “positively impacts the native aerospace trade, which is able to see a big enhance in its share of manufacturing for this system.” This consists of the main edges of the wings and the rear fuselage being manufactured by Aero Vodochody.
The assertion additionally quoted then protection minister Jana Černochová: “Previous and current historical past clearly reveals us that the navy wants to have the ability to transport individuals and heavier cargo over longer distances. Evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan are clear proof of this. I’m subsequently very happy that now we have managed to accumulate plane for our Air Drive which are able to performing these duties.”
Czech protection information outlet CZ DEFENCE, whereas saying the second plane is predicted to reach between 2027 to 2028, mentioned there are plans to extend the fleet sooner or later with a view to have a “minimal threshold for a really sustainable and operationally viable fleet.”
📸 twenty fourth Transportation AFB, CzAF, Tereza Dudová pic.twitter.com/uSgqRHrFq5
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 7, 2026
The report additionally added the present contract features a host of different gear and materials like “simulators, coaching and upkeep services, a big set of spare components, an operations and upkeep planner, gear for particular operations, a firefighting and refueling package, gear for floor refueling of automobiles, an air ambulance module, and gear for search and rescue operations.” The Czech Air Drive (CzAF) additionally operates six C-295 tactical transport plane and 4 smaller twin-turboprop Let L-410 UVP-E/UVP-T Turbolets for short-range passenger and cargo transport.
Na Ruzyni právě přistál první z dvojice Embraerů C-390 Millenium Vzdušných sil AČR. Doletěl ze závodu výrobce v Brazílii. Nová vlajková loď transportní letky uveze až 26 tun nákladu, případně pojme 80 cestujících nebo 64 plně vyzbrojených výsadkářů. Plně naložený letoun doletí… pic.twitter.com/qRNvyqO2XT
— Vojtěch Očadlý (@vojtaocadly) July 6, 2026
Do Prahy přiletěl první Embraer C-390 Millennium professional Armádu ČR
Letadlo pojme až 80 cestujících, dosahuje cestovní rychlosti zhruba 870 km/h. Při nákladu 14 tun má Embraer doletět přibližně 5 000 kilometrů, s přídavnými nádržemi až 8 000 kilometrů. Unikátní kamufláž navrhl… pic.twitter.com/Lsiu3xaFNK
— Georgi Bidenko (@georgibidenko) July 6, 2026
Help agreements with European firms
Being the fifth European and NATO member operator of the sort additionally permits the CzAF to share upkeep and restore assets inside the continent, saving prices and easing logistics. That is very true as Embraer inked assist and expertise switch agreements with different European nations.
On Jun. 25, 2026, the Brazilian firm signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoA) with Poland’s main aerospace Upkeep Restore and Overhaul (MRO) firm, Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 SA (WZL-2), a subsidiary of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa Group (PGZ).
The strategic settlement” consists of industrial cooperation between the 2 firms for “companies and assist [..] associated to the KC-390,” talked about an announcement. WZL-2 and Embraer “will collectively put together a broad framework for future collaborations, encompassing a variety of capabilities in companies and assist, plane completion and conversion, exterior portray, and programs integration.”
📍Václav Havel Airport Prague, #CzechRepublic (🇨🇿)
The primary @ArmadaCR C-390 Millennium has arrived in nation following supply from #Brazil (🇧🇷).
📸: Letišti Praha pic.twitter.com/TK6i8bHbzS
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) July 6, 2026
The press launch quoted WZL-2’s chairman of the board of administrators Jakub Gazda: “Our objective is to develop industrial and upkeep capabilities in Poland to assist KC-390 Millennium operations, whereas strengthening the nation’s aerospace and protection capabilities. We imagine that combining Embraer’s expertise with WZL-2’s experience will convey concrete advantages to the Polish Armed Forces and your complete Polish protection trade.”
