Embraer Signs MoU with South Korean Industry Partners for C-390 Support

Embraer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three aerospace industry partners in South Korea, for equipment support of its C-390 Millennium aircraft.

The Memorandums

Embraer has signed several Memorandums of Understanding on October 27 with the aerospace companies ASTG (Aerospace Technology of Global), EMK (EM Korea Co.), and Kencoa Aerospace, from South Korea with the objective of strengthening collaboration with Korean defense industry partners for the future supply of parts for the Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft.

The C-390 Millennium aircraft is competing in the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II Program being run by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

South Korea has a huge potential for supplying manufactured parts, and it will contribute to the LTA program, also known as the C-390 Millennium. The memorandums of understanding intend to create long-term business relationships between the parties which will endure for the LTA II Program and beyond.

Local industry capabilities can also be part of future developments within Embraer’s existing platforms such as the C-390 Millennium as well as new aircraft, vehicles, and systems.

“Embraer is very confident on the mutual benefits to be gained from this collaboration, thus creating a sustainable and growing relationship between Embraer and the partners in South Korea”, said Jackson Schneider, President & CEO, of Embraer Defense & Security.

“By offering more than 50 years of experience in aviation, technology, and innovation, Embraer is looking to establish meaningful partnerships in South Korea to create new businesses and solutions.”

The Embraer C-390 Millennium and its aerial refuelling configuration, the KC-390, are the new generation of multi-mission military transport delivering unrivalled mobility and cargo capacity, rapid re-configuration, high availability, enhanced comfort, as well as optimal management of reduced operational costs throughout its lifecycle, all on a single platform.

Since the first delivery to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the KC-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability, and performance. FAB’s current fleet of KC-390 stands at five units. The fleet has already exceeded 7,000 flight hours in operation, with a 99% mission completion rate, demonstrating excellent availability and productivity in its category.

In June 2022, the Netherlands Ministry of Defense announced the selection of the C-390 Millennium to replace the current fleet of C-130 Hercules. The Portuguese Armed Forces and the Hungarian Defense Forces will begin operations with the KC-390 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The three European countries’ fleets will be capable of performing aerial refueling and be fully NATO-compatible.

Excellent opportunity

These memorandums will certainly boost the economy of South Korea. They will also allow a better relationship between the 2 countries, as they are now going to have to collaborate with each other and make a much better end product.

The quality of materials produced in South Korea is exceptionally higher than many other countries due to their high experience in the aviation part-making field, which they have been doing for years now with Boeing and Airbus.

Another major benefit of partnering up with South Korea is its position in the field; besides making airplane parts, they are also a very strong nation that has begun building its own helicopters, together with Airbus, such as the KAI LAH helicopter not too long ago.