First KC-390 for Hungary on final assembly line
On 7 October 2022, Embraer released a photo of the first Embraer KC-390 Millenium for the Magyar Légierö (ML, Hungarian Air Force). The aircraft has serial 610 and this coincided with the artist impression that was released in November 2020.
On 17 november 2020, Scramble Magazine reported that the Hungarian government signed a contract for the purchase of two KC-390s with air-to-air refuelling (AAR) capability. The contract includes training of pilots and technicians, other services and support to strengthen the Hungarian Defence Forces.
According to the information Embraer is currently assembling the semi-wings on the aircraft's fuselage. Flight tests of the first aircraft will begin in the second half of 2023, with delivery taking place in the second quarter of 2024.
The second KC-390 for Hungary is scheduled to begin production in December 2022, thus maintaining the original schedule, and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2024.
The KC-390s destined for the Hungarian Air Force will be the first in the world with the Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, an essential feature for performing humanitarian missions.
In June 2022, Embraer and Aeroplex signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on a project to qualify Aeroplex as an Embraer Authorized Service Center (EASC) in Hungary. The aim is to support and enable Aeroplex to provide maintenance for the Hungarian Defence Forces KC-390 Millennium aircraft.
Photo via EMBRAER