Embraer and Northrop Grumman purpose to supply superior aerial refueling choices amid a tanker functionality hole within the U.S. and different Allied air forces.
Brazilian aerospace main Embraer and Northrop Grumman introduced on Feb. 19, 2026, a collaboration to additional develop the KC-390 Millenium tanker-transport plane “to offer superior tanking capabilities for the USA Air Power and allied nations.” The team-up will see a refueling growth being developed and put in on the centerline, including to the 2 underwing hose-and-drogue refueling pods, as proven by the idea rendition launched by Embraer.
The 2 corporations will mix their technical experience to develop what they’ve described as a KC-390 Multi-Mission Tanker. Beside an “autonomous” aerial refueling growth, they listed different options like “enhanced communications, situational consciousness and survivability choices, in addition to adaptable mission methods.”
“These enhancements will broaden the vary of plane supported by KC-390 refueling operations and broaden its mission scope in operational environments,” the joint launch stated.
The collaboration with Embraer is a part of Northrop’s “three-pronged strategy” to the U.S. Air Power’s pursuit of a “household of methods” for future refuelers, which matches from a big blended-wing physique it’s growing with JetZero, all the way down to a small, uncrewed tanker, Aviation Week reported.
We’re collectively growing superior air mobility capabilities with @Embraer for US and allied nations. pic.twitter.com/Ornk8djB5o
— Northrop Grumman (@NGCNews) February 19, 2026
Embraer is already steadily increasing its portfolio with the KC/C-390 Millenium following gross sales to Europe, conceptual digital warfare and ISR variants, and foraying into the Indian market by responding to the Indian Air Power’s Medium Transport Plane (MTA) bid. It additionally introduced the signing of an MoU with Indian firm Hindalco to fabricate aerospace aluminum feedstocks to help its plane manufacturing and current enterprise in India, and plans with the Mahindra Group to ascertain a Upkeep Restore Overhaul (MRO) functionality for the C-390 it has aggressively marketed to New Delhi.
Northrop – Embraer collaboration on KC-390
The discharge stated the businesses are “becoming a member of forces to mix their insights and experiences to quickly advance the initiatives required to ship a subsequent technology air-refueling system.” Sharing respective experience in “plane design, growth and manufacturing with methods integration and industry-leading manufacturing capabilities,” the Northrop and Embraer collaboration “units the stage for the event of the KC-390 Multi-Mission Tanker for US and allied air forces and shapes the necessities for future aerial logistics architectures.”
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Methods’ President and Company Vice President Tom Jones known as the collaboration a “strategic funding” to “deal with the hole in superior air mobility options globally.” He additional added “We’re listening to our prospects, notably in allied nations who search better operational autonomy and effectivity, and we’re exploring new applied sciences that can improve the flexibility of the confirmed KC-390 platform and ship that better operational independence our prospects want.”
NEWS | Embraer and @northropgrumman Collectively Creating Superior Air Mobility Capabilities for US and Allied Nations. Learn full information: pic.twitter.com/8KStBia1PC
— Embraer (@embraer) February 19, 2026
Embraer’s President and CEO Bosco da Costa Junior stated: “Collectively, we are going to leverage the strengths of two leaders within the protection {industry}, with a give attention to growing a growth refueling system for the KC-390 Millennium in order that we are able to convey the correct functionality to the U.S. Division of Struggle and different allied nations. The KC-390 is an operationally confirmed and cost-effective platform that might shortly be added to the U.S. Air Power stock.”
Present gaps in U.S. and Allied refueling functionality
The U.S. Air Power has gone backwards and forwards on its plans for the longer term refueling tanker program, the Subsequent Technology Air-refueling System (NGAS), for the reason that program’s inception in 2023. The service final launched a “managed unclassified data” Request for Info (RFI) in August 2025 for the NGAS however didn’t disclose any particular requirement.
美军部长弗兰克·肯德尔 宣布，加州初创公司 JetZero 已被选中在 2027 年之前建造一架具有BWB混合翼身 (翼身融合) 的XBW-1验证机。BWB 的主要优势是燃油效率，其翼型机身可以让整个飞机产生升力，减少至少30-40percent燃油消耗。使用持续航空燃料 SAF，碳排放可下降 80% 以上。取消尾翼，顶部安装发动机 pic.twitter.com/KTfQriGNql
— 极光 (@Aurora107E) August 17, 2023
Later, in September 2025, DefenseScoop quoted Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) chief Gen. John Lamontagne on the sidelines of the AFA Air, Area and Cyber convention, who stated “Nearly each choice is on the desk.”
“That was actually a large take a look at how we might do air-refueling sooner or later […] standard tankers we all know of at present – one thing like a [KC-135 Stratotanker] or a [KC-46 Pegasus] as is – or one thing with a bunch of mission methods added to it, with protection methods, connectivity, intelligence and extra,” Lamontagne stated. Different choices embrace “a enterprise jet, a blended-wing physique or a signature-managed tanker,” he added.
As of December 2025, in accordance with the World Air Forces 2026 report, the U.S. Air Power operates 376 older KC-135 Stratotankers and 95 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus plane, with the latter meant to interchange the previous. Boeing had beforehand stated it delivered 14 KC-46s in 2025 and is now concentrating on to ship 19 airframes in 2026.
The corporate is at the moment below contract to offer 183 tankers for U.S. and worldwide prospects, however the quantity may quickly improve because the U.S. Air Power is planning to obtain 75 further plane to recapitalize the growing old KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.
Some ship flowers. We ship tankers. 💌✈️
Immediately’s #KC46 supply marks the twenty third supply to @Travis60AMW and 103 complete Pegasus plane making certain the mission stays fueled and prepared for the @USAirForce. pic.twitter.com/w7CplELfnm
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) February 13, 2026
