The Czech Republic received the first of the two C-390 Millenniums ordered in 2024 from Embraer, with the second aircraft expected to arrive in 2027-2028.
The Czech Air Force received on Jul. 6, 2026 its first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, when the plane landed at the 24th Transport Air Force Base in Prague-Kbely. The aircraft is the first of two C-390s the Czech Republic ordered in October 2024 as part of a CZK 11.3 billion ($508 million) deal.
Sharing the images on X, the Czech Armed Forces said: “The C-390 Millennium aircraft has arrived in the Czech Republic. Every new aircraft means greater capabilities for transporting soldiers, equipment, and materials where they are needed.”
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 short update, the Czech Armed Forces (Armáda České Republiky) and the Ministry of Defense (Ministerstvo Obrany) identified the aircraft with its official local designation, the KCV-390 Millennium.
Embraer announced the CzAF C-390’s first flight on May 25. While revealing the aircraft on Jun. 13, 2026, following its paint job at its facility in Brazil, Embraer said that the special three-tone gray camouflage was designed by academic painter Pavel Holý from the Military History Institute in Prague.
Two Jas 39 Gripen C from 211th tactical squadron provided honorary escort for the new C-390 Millenium of the Czech Air Force as it entered Czech Airspace pic.twitter.com/cBx9j5bGn2
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 8, 2026
At the time, the Czech MoD also said that an initial batch of six pilots, six flight engineers and 12 ground-based engineering personnel were in Brazil as a part of a two-month training package. “After the aircraft arrives in the Czech Republic, training will continue for another six months under the supervision of Brazilian instructors,” FlightGlobal reported quoting the Czech MoD.
C-390 in Czech service
Embraer had previously said in October 2024, on the occasion of signing the contract with the Czech MoD, that the two C-390s for the CzAF are “NATO-standard” aircraft. These can perform a wide range of roles including “tactical transport of troops, vehicles, and equipment, medical evacuation, firefighting, disaster management, humanitarian support, and air-to-air refueling.”
Check out the best images of the maiden flight of the first C-390 Millennium aircraft ordered by the Czech Air Force. The NATO-standard aircraft will enhance and modernize the operational capabilities of the country being able to perform a wide range of missions. pic.twitter.com/AjMgVWGhu9
— Embraer (@embraer) May 25, 2026
The C-390 has a maximum payload of 26 tons and a top speed of 470 knots according to Embraer. With the addition of a “rapid deployment aerial refueling (AAR) system,” the C-390 becomes the KC-390, adding the capability to refuel aircraft with hose-and-drogue system, such as the Gripens in service in the CzAF.
There is also a significant local Czech defense industrial participation in the C-390 acquisition, with Embraer saying in October 2024 that the procurement “positively impacts the local aerospace industry, which will see a significant increase in its share of production for the program.” This includes the leading edges of the wings and the rear fuselage being manufactured by Aero Vodochody.
The statement also quoted then defense minister Jana Černochová: “Past and present history clearly shows us that the military needs to be able to transport people and heavier cargo over longer distances. Evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan are clear evidence of this. I am therefore very pleased that we have managed to acquire aircraft for our Air Force that are capable of performing these tasks.”
Czech defense news outlet CZ DEFENCE, while saying the second aircraft is expected to arrive between 2027 to 2028, said there are plans to increase the fleet in the future with a view to have a “minimum threshold for a truly sustainable and operationally viable fleet.”
📸 24th Transportation AFB, CzAF, Tereza Dudová pic.twitter.com/uSgqRHrFq5
— Daniel of Bohemia (@Danny_elMayor) July 7, 2026
The report also added the current contract includes a host of other equipment and material like “simulators, training and maintenance facilities, a large set of spare parts, an operations and maintenance planner, equipment for special operations, a firefighting and refueling kit, equipment for ground refueling of vehicles, an air ambulance module, and equipment for search and rescue operations.” The Czech Air Force (CzAF) also operates six C-295 tactical transport aircraft and four 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 pro 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
Support agreements with European companies
Being the fifth European and NATO member operator of the type also allows the CzAF to share maintenance and repair resources within the continent, saving costs and easing logistics. This is especially true as Embraer inked support and technology transfer agreements with other European countries.
On Jun. 25, 2026, the Brazilian company signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Poland’s leading aerospace Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) company, Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 SA (WZL-2), a subsidiary of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa Group (PGZ).
The strategic agreement” includes industrial cooperation between the two companies for “services and support [..] related to the KC-390,” mentioned a statement. WZL-2 and Embraer “will jointly prepare a broad framework for future collaborations, encompassing a wide range of capabilities in services and support, aircraft completion and conversion, exterior painting, and systems integration.”
📍Václav Havel Airport Prague, #CzechRepublic (🇨🇿)
The first @ArmadaCR C-390 Millennium has arrived in country following delivery from #Brazil (🇧🇷).
📸: Letišti Praha https://t.co/NRlBrgkefm pic.twitter.com/TK6i8bHbzS
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) July 6, 2026
The press release quoted WZL-2’s chairman of the board of directors Jakub Gazda: “Our goal is to develop industrial and maintenance capabilities in Poland to support KC-390 Millennium operations, while strengthening the country’s aerospace and defense capabilities. We believe that combining Embraer’s experience with WZL-2’s expertise will bring concrete benefits to the Polish Armed Forces and the entire Polish defense industry.”
