Brazil and Polish defense industry Sign Agreement to produce KC-390 Military Transport Aircraft in Poland
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Brazilian Company Embraer announced in Warsaw on December 2, 2025, that it signed five new MoUs with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and several PGZ subsidiaries to advance long-term cooperation on the KC-390 Millennium and related aerospace projects. The agreements position Poland to strengthen its transport aviation capabilities while expanding industrial ties with Brazil’s defense sector.
Brazilian Company Embraer confirmed that it has entered into five strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Poland’s state-owned defense group PGZ and key subsidiaries, marking a significant step toward deeper industrial and program-level collaboration on the KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft. Company officials described the documents as a framework for joint work on maintenance, production support, and broader aerospace technologies, noting that the agreements align with Poland’s ongoing modernization push and its interest in expanding domestic aviation capacity. While specific work shares were not disclosed, executives on both sides indicated that the MoUs set the stage for long-term cooperation that could support future procurement or sustainment decisions.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Embraer KC-390 Millennium is a next-generation multi-mission military transport aircraft capable of carrying 26 tons of cargo, performing aerial refueling, medical evacuation, and operating from unprepared runways. Designed for high reliability and versatility, it supports a wide range of tactical and strategic missions for modern armed forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia)
The KC-390 Millennium is a next-generation, medium-lift military transport aircraft developed by Brazilian Company Embraer to perform a wide range of missions under the most demanding conditions. With a maximum payload capacity of 26 tons, the aircraft can carry troops, armored vehicles, pallets, and conduct aerial refueling both as a tanker and receiver. It cruises at speeds up to 470 knots and operates from semi-prepared or unpaved runways, including dirt, gravel, and packed earth. Designed with modern fly-by-wire systems, NATO-standard avionics, and rapid reconfiguration capabilities, the KC-390 is tailored for tactical and strategic airlift, MEDEVAC, humanitarian missions, and search-and-rescue operations. Its modular architecture and high mission-readiness rate position it as a serious contender to replace older C-130 Hercules aircraft in several allied air forces.
In recent years, the KC-390 has gained traction among NATO members in Europe. Portugal became the first European customer, with its first aircraft delivered in 2023 and full operational capability expected by 2026. Hungary followed with its own order, receiving its initial KC-390 in 2024 and integrating it into a rapidly modernizing airlift fleet. The aircraft is also in service with the Brazilian Air Force and continues to be evaluated by several European nations, including the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The Polish partnership represents not only a potential pathway for KC-390 procurement but also a broader effort to build a regional support base in Central and Eastern Europe, enhancing the aircraft’s logistical appeal and serviceability for future European customers.
This landmark partnership aligns Embraer with some of Poland’s most capable and specialized defense companies. Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL-1), based in Łódź, will support the production of composite and metallic parts, certification processes, and technology transfer. WZL-2, located in Bydgoszcz, brings decades of MRO expertise and is positioned to become a regional sustainment hub for the KC-390. WSK “PZL-Kalisz” will contribute precision manufacturing, mechanical systems expertise, and heat-treatment services, while WBCKT, a technology integrator within the WB Group, will explore joint development of ground support equipment and potential command-and-control applications linked to Embraer’s aircraft systems.
The MoUs extend beyond tactical aircraft production and maintenance. Embraer and PGZ will jointly explore future cooperation in supply chain integration, engineering development, and advanced aerospace testing. The agreement outlines a roadmap for Polish companies to take on a greater share of manufacturing workshare, develop new capabilities, and ultimately contribute to Embraer’s European and global operations.
Speaking at the ceremony, PGZ Vice President Jan Grabowski described the deal as a strategic breakthrough for Poland’s defense industrial base: “Thanks to the agreements signed with Embraer, the PGZ Group gains a partner who is one of the largest aviation companies in the world. This confirms our readiness to establish long-term cooperation, boosting the technological depth of our defense industry.”
On Embraer’s side, Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, highlighted the European dimension of the deal. “These agreements lay a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will effectively place Poland at the center of the industrial ecosystem we are creating in Europe,” he said. He also noted that the collaboration goes beyond the KC-390, pointing to opportunities in C4ISR integration and dual-use aerospace technologies.
During the event, Embraer also showcased the KC-390 Millennium and its operational track record, which includes a mission readiness rate of 93 percent and mission completion rates above 99 percent. The aircraft’s speed, payload capacity, and multi-role versatility make it a compelling solution for modern NATO airlift needs. In addition, the company highlighted the counter-UAS capabilities of its A-29 Super Tucano, a platform increasingly seen as relevant in asymmetric warfare scenarios across Eastern Europe.
While Poland has not yet formally committed to acquiring the KC-390, defense sources in Warsaw suggest that a potential procurement is under serious evaluation by the Ministry of National Defense. With the new industrial cooperation framework in place, such a purchase would not only enhance Poland’s airlift capabilities but also ensure significant domestic industrial participation in its operation and support.
For Embraer, the agreements represent a major step forward in securing a long-term industrial foothold in Europe. Poland marks a turning point in its transformation from a defense hardware importer to a regional aerospace co-producer. As both countries deepen their defense ties, the KC-390 is poised to become more than an aircraft—it may be the launchpad for a new phase of transatlantic defense collaboration.Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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Brazilian Company Embraer announced in Warsaw on December 2, 2025, that it signed five new MoUs with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and several PGZ subsidiaries to advance long-term cooperation on the KC-390 Millennium and related aerospace projects. The agreements position Poland to strengthen its transport aviation capabilities while expanding industrial ties with Brazil’s defense sector.
Brazilian Company Embraer confirmed that it has entered into five strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Poland’s state-owned defense group PGZ and key subsidiaries, marking a significant step toward deeper industrial and program-level collaboration on the KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft. Company officials described the documents as a framework for joint work on maintenance, production support, and broader aerospace technologies, noting that the agreements align with Poland’s ongoing modernization push and its interest in expanding domestic aviation capacity. While specific work shares were not disclosed, executives on both sides indicated that the MoUs set the stage for long-term cooperation that could support future procurement or sustainment decisions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Embraer KC-390 Millennium is a next-generation multi-mission military transport aircraft capable of carrying 26 tons of cargo, performing aerial refueling, medical evacuation, and operating from unprepared runways. Designed for high reliability and versatility, it supports a wide range of tactical and strategic missions for modern armed forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia)
The KC-390 Millennium is a next-generation, medium-lift military transport aircraft developed by Brazilian Company Embraer to perform a wide range of missions under the most demanding conditions. With a maximum payload capacity of 26 tons, the aircraft can carry troops, armored vehicles, pallets, and conduct aerial refueling both as a tanker and receiver. It cruises at speeds up to 470 knots and operates from semi-prepared or unpaved runways, including dirt, gravel, and packed earth. Designed with modern fly-by-wire systems, NATO-standard avionics, and rapid reconfiguration capabilities, the KC-390 is tailored for tactical and strategic airlift, MEDEVAC, humanitarian missions, and search-and-rescue operations. Its modular architecture and high mission-readiness rate position it as a serious contender to replace older C-130 Hercules aircraft in several allied air forces.
In recent years, the KC-390 has gained traction among NATO members in Europe. Portugal became the first European customer, with its first aircraft delivered in 2023 and full operational capability expected by 2026. Hungary followed with its own order, receiving its initial KC-390 in 2024 and integrating it into a rapidly modernizing airlift fleet. The aircraft is also in service with the Brazilian Air Force and continues to be evaluated by several European nations, including the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The Polish partnership represents not only a potential pathway for KC-390 procurement but also a broader effort to build a regional support base in Central and Eastern Europe, enhancing the aircraft’s logistical appeal and serviceability for future European customers.
This landmark partnership aligns Embraer with some of Poland’s most capable and specialized defense companies. Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL-1), based in Łódź, will support the production of composite and metallic parts, certification processes, and technology transfer. WZL-2, located in Bydgoszcz, brings decades of MRO expertise and is positioned to become a regional sustainment hub for the KC-390. WSK “PZL-Kalisz” will contribute precision manufacturing, mechanical systems expertise, and heat-treatment services, while WBCKT, a technology integrator within the WB Group, will explore joint development of ground support equipment and potential command-and-control applications linked to Embraer’s aircraft systems.
The MoUs extend beyond tactical aircraft production and maintenance. Embraer and PGZ will jointly explore future cooperation in supply chain integration, engineering development, and advanced aerospace testing. The agreement outlines a roadmap for Polish companies to take on a greater share of manufacturing workshare, develop new capabilities, and ultimately contribute to Embraer’s European and global operations.
Speaking at the ceremony, PGZ Vice President Jan Grabowski described the deal as a strategic breakthrough for Poland’s defense industrial base: “Thanks to the agreements signed with Embraer, the PGZ Group gains a partner who is one of the largest aviation companies in the world. This confirms our readiness to establish long-term cooperation, boosting the technological depth of our defense industry.”
On Embraer’s side, Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, highlighted the European dimension of the deal. “These agreements lay a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will effectively place Poland at the center of the industrial ecosystem we are creating in Europe,” he said. He also noted that the collaboration goes beyond the KC-390, pointing to opportunities in C4ISR integration and dual-use aerospace technologies.
During the event, Embraer also showcased the KC-390 Millennium and its operational track record, which includes a mission readiness rate of 93 percent and mission completion rates above 99 percent. The aircraft’s speed, payload capacity, and multi-role versatility make it a compelling solution for modern NATO airlift needs. In addition, the company highlighted the counter-UAS capabilities of its A-29 Super Tucano, a platform increasingly seen as relevant in asymmetric warfare scenarios across Eastern Europe.
While Poland has not yet formally committed to acquiring the KC-390, defense sources in Warsaw suggest that a potential procurement is under serious evaluation by the Ministry of National Defense. With the new industrial cooperation framework in place, such a purchase would not only enhance Poland’s airlift capabilities but also ensure significant domestic industrial participation in its operation and support.
For Embraer, the agreements represent a major step forward in securing a long-term industrial foothold in Europe. Poland marks a turning point in its transformation from a defense hardware importer to a regional aerospace co-producer. As both countries deepen their defense ties, the KC-390 is poised to become more than an aircraft—it may be the launchpad for a new phase of transatlantic defense collaboration.
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
