Update: Dubai Airshow 2019: Boeing Embraer - Defense JV to market re-badged C-390 Millennium airlifter

Boeing and Embraer have launched their joint-venture (JV) to sell the newly rebadged C-390 Millennium airlifter to the international market, it was announced on 18 November.

Revealed at the Dubai Air Show, the Boeing Embraer – Defense JV will formally become operational after the companies' joint venture receives regulatory approvals and meets closing conditions. Embraer will have 51% ownership of Boeing Embraer – Defense, with Boeing holding the remaining 49%.

The announcement came on the same day that Embraer declared that the ‘C-390 Millennium’ is to be the new designation for what had been the KC-390, although it included the proviso that customers requesting the aerial tanker capability will still refer to their aircraft as the KC-390.

The KC-390/C-390 Millennium received its civil certification from the Brazilian National Aviation Agency (ANAC) in 2018 and is now in full production. Embraer delivered the first of 28 KC-390 transport aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira: FAB), at an acceptance ceremony at Anápolis Air Base on 4 September. With a contract for 28 aircraft for Brazil being placed in 2014, the two flight test platforms were scheduled to be refurbished ahead of delivery to the FAB for a final fleet of 30. However, an Embraer spokesperson has told Jane’s that a decision on the test platforms will be taken at a later date. Deliveries are due to conclude in 2026.