Embraer ships first C-390 to Uzbekistan. What cargo jet can do?

Uzbekistan Air Force has taken delivery of its first Embraer C-390 Millennium, making it Central Asia’s first delivery of the military transport aircraft. The handover took place on September 25 in Brazil, marking a new phase in the country’s efforts to modernise its airlift fleet.

Embraer said Uzbekistan’s air force commander, Major General Akhmad Burkhonov, attended the ceremony at its Gavião Peixoto facility. The military cargo aircraft had been publicly unveiled in Uzbek colours earlier this month.

The backstory: Embraer unveils Uzbekistan’s first C-390 military cargo plane

The jet’s main purpose is moving people and equipment. According to Embraer’s specifications, it can carry up to 26 tonnes and cruise at approximately 870km/h. Missions include transporting troops and cargo, evacuating casualties, search and rescue, and delivering humanitarian aid.

Its ability to use temporary or unpaved runways could be particularly useful when an emergency makes conventional airports inaccessible.

Embraer has said Uzbekistan intends to use the aircraft primarily for transport and humanitarian operations.

The purchase also broadens the mix of aircraft in Uzbekistan’s transport fleet, which already includes Airbus C295s alongside Soviet-designed transports, as Kursiv previously reported. The supply agreement includes training, support and spare parts.

Read more: Uzbekistan publicly displays Chinese J-10 fighter jets

One milestone that remains separate from the ceremony is the operational service. Aviation24 reports that neither an arrival date in Uzbekistan nor an entry-into-service date has been announced.