Embraer’s first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is heading to Asia as the program advances toward initial delivery. The aircraft, South Korea’s first example of the Brazilian-built airlifter and the type’s debut in the Asian market, has completed final assembly and initial flight activities at Embraer’s facilities in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, according to company disclosures.
South Korea selected the C-390 in December 2023 under the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Large Transport Aircraft II tender, becoming the first Asian customer for the model. The aircraft emerged from the production line in December 2025 and has since been undergoing systems integration, ground tests, and flight evaluations.
Embraer has stated that delivery of South Korea’s first C-390 is planned by the end of 2026, following additional testing, certification steps, and acceptance procedures. The exact ferry schedule and route to the Korean Peninsula have not been detailed publicly, but the airframe’s movement toward Asia signals the transition from factory test activities to customer-focused trials and familiarization.
South Korea’s order adds to a growing international customer base for the C-390, which is already in service with the Brazilian Air Force and has been selected by several NATO members. In ROKAF service, the aircraft is expected to take on tactical and strategic airlift roles, including cargo transport, troop movement, and potential humanitarian and disaster relief missions.