Embraer, Boeing To Jointly Market KC-390 Aerial Refuelling Aircraft

Embraer and Boeing have signed an agreement to jointly market and support the KC-390, a multi-mission mobility and aerial refuelling aircraft.

The aircraft is currently on an eight nation tour, and expects to receive certification by the end of 2017. Deliveries are expected to begin during the first half of 2018.

Under the agreement the companies will together pursue new business opportunities, both for the aircraft itself and for aircraft support and sustainment. Embraer will provide the aircraft while Boeing will be responsible for in-service support, the companies said in a statement Monday.

The agreement expands an existing collaboration between the two companies; in 2012, the two companies first announced their intention to jointly market the aircraft.

The Embraer KC-390 is a tactical transport aircraft designed to set new standards in its category while presenting the lowest life-cycle cost of the market. It can perform a variety of missions such as cargo and troop transport, troop and cargo air delivery, aerial refuelling, search and rescue and forest fire fighting.

It is a project of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) that, in 2009, hired Embraer to perform the aircraft development. The first prototype has performed its first flight in February 2015 and two prototypes are currently in flight test campaign, averaging two flights a day and proving high aircraft readiness.