On February 3, Embraer officially announced at an airshow in Singapore that Uzbekistan is the customer for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. That is, it's not just about "new equipment" - it's about updating air transport capabilities, accelerating missions, and transitioning to a platform that can work even in difficult conditions.
It is reported that the Air Force of Uzbekistan uses these aircraft mainly for transport and humanitarian purposes. The most important aspect: Uzbekistan will become the first country in Central Asia to operate this type of aircraft. This is also a pivotal event for the region's aviation - some initiate it, while others decide based on the results.
The head of Embraer Defense & Security, Boshko da Costa Junior, also emphasized this, especially from the point of view of modernization: Uzbekistan is modernizing air transport, which means that the speed of tasks and the quality of logistics will be different.
Now about the plane itself. Designed in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century, the C-390 Millennium is presented as one of the most modern military transport aircraft in its class. In relation to other medium-sized military transport aircraft:
- bears a greater payload - up to 26 tons;
- flies faster - up to about 470 knots;
- has the ability to travel longer distances.
The functional list is also a "broad guide": cargo and troop transportation, landing of equipment and personnel, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, humanitarian operations. That is, one plane - several scenarios. This is a huge plus for the modern army and emergency services.
Another practical advantage: it can also be used on temporary or dirt runways. Being able to work in such conditions is a very "useful" feature in real life, because not every mission is at an ideal airfield.
Moreover, the option equipped with the KC-390 unit can also act as a fuel tanker in the air. It is also noted that Millennium is fully compatible with NATO systems, especially for adaptive combat operations (ACE).
Interest in this aircraft is not limited to Uzbekistan. The C-390 Millennium has already been chosen by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and Lithuania.
The conclusion is simple: Uzbekistan is making a "leap" in transport aviation, not a "step." Now the main intrigue is how much humanitarian and logistical missions will accelerate through this platform, how much the geography of flights will expand. In the words of fans: a new "engine" has been installed, now the result will be visible on the scoreboard.
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