Writer

Charlotte Bailey

Two years after the Embraer KC-390’s first appearance at the Singapore Airshow, the return of the multi-mission transport to the static lineup comes at a time when opportunities for these types of aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region are expanding. With the Republic of Korea Air Force set to become the inaugural South Asian C-390 operator, market momentum continues to rise worldwide, with nine nations having ordered the aircraft to date.
According to Embraer’s 2025 market assessment, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to require approximately 180 new transport aircraft over the next 20 years, representing around 40% of the global addressable market for the KC-390. &nbsp;“I would highlight versatility as the defining requirement for Asia-Pacific operators,” Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense &amp; Security, told AIN.
KC-390 mission capabilities range from vehicle and troop transport, disaster relief support, medical evacuation, and—via the KC-390 designation—air-to-air refueling. “Multi-mission adaptability is becoming essential,” continued da Costa, highlighting that transport aircraft operators are also placing increased value on speed, defense systems fitted as standard, and integrated datalink connectivity.
Noting that “speed is life,” da Costa underscored the growing popularity of jet-powered transport platforms such as the C-390, “dramatically reducing transit time across vast archipelagos, enabling faster humanitarian response or rapid troop deployment, while still retaining the ability to operate from austere and unpaved runways in remote areas.”
Crucially, Embraer believes the KC-390 to be the ideal successor to many legacy fleets in the APAC region, some of which have exceeded 40 years in service. These include the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aging Antonov An-32 turboprops, which, despite an ongoing modernization program augmented by the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295MWs, nevertheless leave a capacity gap of up to 80 aircraft identified under the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement.
In October 2025, Embraer entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Mumbai-headquartered Mahindra Group to advance its C-390 MTA offering, supporting domestic manufacturing. In preparation for the IAF’s potential selection of the C-390, Embraer and Mahindra are preparing a comprehensive localization plan. “The scope of cooperation includes industrialization and the development of local capabilities that would not only serve India’s requirements but also support other countries across the region,” explained da Costa.
Other nations set to potentially benefit from this regional capacity have not all been publicly identified, but Embraer confirmed it has “several campaigns underway” across the Asia-Pacific area, “reflecting the aircraft’s strong alignment with the operational needs and modernization priorities of APAC air forces.”
In-country manufacturing expertise is also integral to South Korea’s 2023 selection of the C-390 (a quantity formally unspecified, but expected to be around three units). “The C-390 project in South Korea involves a consortium of local partners; key components have been manufactured locally by ASTK, EMK, and Kencoa Aerospace, creating high-value work and strengthening Korea’s aerospace supply chain,” highlighted da Costa.
Meanwhile, as South Korea awaits the first C-390 delivery from its milestone 2023 order, Embraer sees potential for broader defense collaboration extending beyond the aircraft itself. In 2025, Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, with both parties jointly assessing additional opportunities. Embraer’s involvement with Korean partners dates back to the launch of the former’s E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft program in 2025.
With the KC-390’s 2024 Singapore Airshow debut attracting “strong interest,” da Costa concluded that the aircraft’s “rapid global adoption has also strengthened confidence in the platform.” To date, nine nations— five of them NATO operators—have acquired the KC-390, with firm European orders for 10 aircraft (and options for 10 more) signed in 2025 alone.

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