Embraer presents first KC/C-390 for Uzbekistan

The first of an undisclosed number of Millennium airlifters for Uzbekistan seen in its full national livery and markings ahead of delivery. (Embraer)

Embraer presented the first KC/C-390 Millennium tanker transport aircraft for Uzbekistan on 10 September 2026.

Aircraft tail-number UK 39010 was shown in full national livery and markings just months after the Central Asian country was revealed to be a previously undisclosed customer of the Brazilian-built airlifter on 3 February 2026.

“Today, Embraer presents the first C-390 Millennium aircraft of the Uzbekistan Air Force, making the Republic of Uzbekistan the first C-390 customer in Central Asia,” Embraer said.

As previously noted when Uzbekistan was revealed to be the first Central Asian customer of the KC/C-390, the Uzbek Air Force will use the type primarily in transport and humanitarian missions, significantly improving its capabilities. It will replace and/or augment the countryʼs Soviet Union-era fleet of fixed-wing transport aircraft, comprising the Antonov An-12 ‘Cub', An-24 ‘Coke', An-26 ‘Curl', and Ilyushin Il-76 ‘Candid', as well as the European Airbus C295W.

Neither Embraer nor the Uzbek customer has not said how many aircraft Uzbekistan has ordered, although its noting that this is the first implies more than one will be received. Neither did the company reveal a delivery timeline.

Besides Uzbekistan, the KC/C-390 has been acquired (in order) by Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Colombia. Letters of intent have been signed by Argentina and Chile, while NATO is seen as a realistic near-term opportunity as well. India, Nigeria, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa have all displayed an interest.

For more, please see Paris Air Show 2025: Embraer secures options for 17 European KC-390 airframes with Portuguese and Dutch deals