Colombia has agreed to buy two Embraer KC-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, in a deal signed in Bogotá on 4 August 2026 that marks the Brazilian manufacturer's first order for the airlifter in Latin America outside its home market.
According to FlightGlobal, the acquisition by the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) is valued at about $366 million, with the first aircraft due for delivery in 2029 and the second following in 2030. Aviation24 reports the agreement makes Colombia the 13th country worldwide, and the second in Latin America after Brazil, to select the type.
The purchase is aimed at modernising an ageing air-mobility fleet. FlightGlobal notes the FAC currently operates a single tanker — a Boeing 767 Multi-Mission Tanker Transport that is more than 37 years old — alongside a mixed transport fleet that includes six Lockheed Martin C-130Hs, seven Airbus C295s and five Boeing 737s.
"The FAC's KC-390 Millennium fleet will be capable of performing a wide range of missions, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, and air-to-air refuelling," Embraer said.
The KC-390 is a jet-powered tactical transport designed to compete with turboprop types in the medium-airlift class. Its twin turbofan engines give it a higher cruise speed than propeller-driven rivals, and the tanker/transport variant can be configured to refuel other aircraft in flight as well as carry cargo, troops and palletised loads.
For Embraer, the order is a notable win in a segment long dominated by established Western and Russian designs. Building a customer base beyond Brazil has been a central goal for the C-390 programme, and adding a second Latin American operator strengthens the type's regional footing.
Deliveries several years out also give the FAC and Embraer time to prepare crews, support infrastructure and mission systems before the new transports enter service alongside Colombia's existing fleet.
Sources: FlightGlobal, Aviation24. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Elena Vargas.
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