The sixth unit of the KC-390, the first in FOC configuration, was also presented to the FAB
Air Force Agency, Lieutenant Wanessa Liz and Lieutenant Alvarez
Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) held a ceremony on Monday (April 3), in Gavião Peixoto (SP), to celebrate the delivery of the KC-390 Final Type Certificate, reflecting its Full Operational Capability (FOC). Issued by the Industrial Development Institute (IFI), a military organization under the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) and responsible for certifying aircraft for military use, the FOC certificate confirms that the project meets all the requirements defined by FAB and that the aircraft can perform all the missions for which it was designed.
The FOC certification is an important milestone in the development and production of the KC-390 Millennium, which can now be operated at full capacity by FAB. The aircraft is a state-of-the-art multi-mission tactical transport aircraft designed for military and humanitarian operations in a variety of conditions and environments.
The event was attended by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno; representatives of the Aeronautics High Command; the Secretary of Defense Products of the Ministry of Defense (MD), Rui Chagas Mesquita; Embraer President & CEO, Francisco Gomes Neto; and the President & CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, João Bosco da Costa Junior; Embraer executives and employees.
The sixth unit of the KC-390, the first in the FOC configuration, was also presented to FAB. The other aircraft already delivered to the Brazilian Air Force will be upgraded to have the certification.
During the ceremony, the Commander of the Aeronautics, Lieutenant Brigadier Damasceno, spoke about the K-390 aircraft, and about the meaning of the word perseverance. “The entire development process of a nation necessarily involves increasing its capacity to defend its sovereignty, its interests, and its territory. Thus, with each take-off of our KC-390, the unbreakable hope in a modern and active Air Force will be consolidated. Under its wings, in a modern and safe manner, and now with its final certificate issued, we will continue to bring hope to the farthest places. I emphasize that, during the management of this project, until the issuing of this final certificate, many were the experiences lived and, based on them, valuable pages of history were written”, he concluded.
The President & CEO of Embraer Defesa e Segurança, João Bosco da Costa Junior, highlighted that the KC-390 is ready to take off around the world and celebrated the historic partnership between FAB and EMBRAER that made the development of the aircraft possible. “The boldness to sponsor such a grandiose project, even when reality invites us to think only in the short term, to prioritize immediate and supposedly obvious solutions. It is a day to celebrate the future, we are sure that the world has just begun to discover the extraordinary capabilities of the KC 390 Millennium,” he said.
“In addition to a day of celebration, it is a day for us to give thanks. We thank the women and men of FAB, Embraer, our national and international partners and suppliers who, with their tireless efforts and enormous sacrifices, have made this day possible. Thank you very much,” concluded the CEO of Embraer Defense and Security.
Photos: Sgt. Muller Marin / CECOMSAER – Video: Sergeant Ronan / CECOMSAER