The Portuguese Air Power has welcomed its first Embraer KC-390 navy transport plane. The navy transport plane that landed in Portugal on Sunday is the primary of 5 airframes set. In February 2010, Embraer proposed the C-390 to the Portuguese Ministry of Protection as a substitute possibility for the Portuguese Air Power’s growing old fleet of C-130s. In December 2011, the Portuguese authorities was reportedly set to signal an €87–million contract with Embraer concerning participation within the manufacturing of the C-390. In July 2017, the Portuguese Authorities approved the acquisition of 5 C-390 airlifters, with the choice for a sixth. The deal, which incorporates not solely 5 C-390s but additionally a flight simulator for pilot coaching, was reportedly costed at €827 million. The primary plane was set to be delivered to Portugal in February 2023, whereas the ultimate C-390 was to be handed over by February 2027.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered navy transport plane designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace producer Embraer. It’s the heaviest plane the corporate has constructed up to now. Its design permits versatile operations; each the interior and exterior configuration of the plane may be quickly interchanged to accommodate completely different mission roles. It additionally incorporates trendy know-how and mission software program to assist crews in finishing up operations. The cockpit has head-up shows for the improved imaginative and prescient system with 4 cameras and Rockwell Collins Professional Line Fusion business avionics. The C-390 can refuel in flight different plane via two wing-mounted probe and drogue pods from Cobham plc; these can ship gasoline at as much as 1,500 L (400 US gal) per minute from a 35 t (77,000 lb) complete gasoline capability.
Commercial
The maintain of the plane has a size of 18.5 m (61 ft), width of three.45 m (11.3 ft), and top of two.95 m (9 ft 8 in), and is primarily accessed by way of a big rear ramp constructed into the tail. It could actually carry payloads of as much as 26 t (57,000 lb), this enables for the carriage of both two fully-tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer or Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani wheeled armoured car, a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, 74 litters with life-support tools, as much as 80 troopers or 66 paratroopers with full gear, and a great deal of as much as 42,000 lb (19 t) may be air dropped. A cargo dealing with and aerial supply system, produced by DRS Protection Options, is included. The plane is powered by a pair of IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, that are mounted ahead on the excessive wing; this wing options an anhedral angle, slats, and Excessive-lift units in a position to deflect as much as 40°.
The C-390 Millennium is provided with absolutely fly-by-wire flight controls mixed with energetic sidesticks, which reduces the crew’s workload over typical counterparts and permits load components as much as 3g. An autothrottle system can be put in. The navigation methods, which have been largely provided by Thales Group, embody an Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) transponder. It’s fitted with SELEX Galileo’s Gabbiano tactical radar, able to GMTI, SAR, ISAR, SART modes amongst others. For self-defense functions, an Elbit Methods-supplied directional infrared countermeasures suite can be usually put in. An built-in onboard upkeep system actively displays the well being of the general plane and numerous subsystems always.
