The first KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport for the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF) completed its maiden flight from Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in Brazil on February 8, months later than was originally planned.
The aircraft (610) was painted in full HuAF markings and wore an overall pale grey colour scheme. Embraer initially stated that flight testing of the first Hungarian KC-390 would begin in the second half of 2023, with its delivery expected to take place in Q2 2024.
Hungary has procured two KC-390s and these will be delivered before the end of 2024, replacing the air arm’s now-retired Russian-made An-26 Curl transports and helping to address an increased demand for military airlift capabilities. In Hungarian service, the aircraft will be used for tactical transport and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations, as well as providing an air-to-air refuelling capability for the HuAF’s JAS 39C/D Gripen fleet.
Budapest inked a contract with Embraer to acquire two KC-390s in November 2020, becoming the third country to select the type after Brazil and Portugal. Since then, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and South Korea have also selected the type. The HuAF’s examples will be the first KC-390s to have an Intensive Care Unit in their configuration options. This promises to be an invaluable resource for humanitarian missions. The aircraft will be configured for air-to-air refuelling as both a tanker and a receiver, and therefore will use the KC-390 designation over the C-390 moniker.
The training of HuAF personnel is already underway at the Embraer training centre, so that the aircraft can be promptly inducted into operational service following their delivery to Hungary later this year.
