Embraer C-390 is a medium-sized twin-engined jet-powered military transport aircraft proposed by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. It will be the heaviest aircraft that the company has made so far, and will be able to transport up to 19 tons of cargo, including wheeled armored vehicles. Size-wise it is an aircraft between the twin-turboprop C-27J Spartan, with an 11.5 ton payload and the C-130J Hercules with a 21.7 ton payload. The aircraft will incorporate many of the technological solutions from the Embraer E-Jets series.
The aircraft will have a rear ramp for loading an unloading a wide range of cargo.br /br /The unit price is estimated to be around $50 million US, while the competition sells similar models for up to $120 million. The vice president of Embraer, Luís Carlos Aguilar, said that according to their estimates, some 695 military transport aircraft in the world will need to be replaced during the next decade, and that there is potential market for this kind of plane.
Potential power plant options have been studied in the 17,000–22,000lb-thrust (75.6–98kN) range, including engines such as Pratt amp; Whitney’s PW6000 and Rolls-Royce’s BR715.
The Brazilian postal service, the Correios, has demonstrated interest in buying at least 5 and eventually 20 to 25 of the aircraft, in lieu of using commercial freight service for mail transport.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA (Embraer) confirmed that it is considering developing a military transport plane, which it calls the C-390, with 19 tons’ load capacity.
The C-390 would be the heaviest aircraft manufactured by the group, which makes regional commercial jets with up to 120 seats, and would draw on ‘technological solutions developed for the Embraer 190 commercial aircraft,’ according to a statement published by the group.
It would be equipped with a rear ramp for loading armored vehicles, and could also be refitted for transportation of the sick and wounded, the group said, and would be capable of midair refueling, as both fuel recipient and supplier.
‘Our studies indicate that there is a potentially global market for this type of plane, especially for replacement of old models ending their service life during the next decade,’ said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, executive vice-president of Embraer’s defence marketing operations.
