Embraer is actively engaged in discussions with both Colombia and Chile over possible purchases of its C-390 military transport jet, the company’s chief executive said. The Brazilian planemaker is stepping up production to match growing foreign demand for the aircraft, according to comments from CEO Francisco Gomes Neto.
At present, Brazil is the sole operator of the C-390 in Latin America. Securing additional sales within the region would advance Embraer’s objective of expanding the C-390’s international footprint - positioning the aircraft as a direct competitor to Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules.
Gomes Neto cautioned that procurement campaigns in Latin America often proceed more slowly than in other markets because of the time required for budget approvals and formal purchasing processes. He nonetheless said Embraer believes the C-390 suits the operational needs of both Colombia and Chile and that both countries have been receptive to the program.
"These campaigns in Latin America sometimes take a bit longer than normal. But they have a need, they like the aircraft, and they have a very close relationship with the Brazilian Air Force," Gomes Neto said.
The company sees a possible divergence in timing between the two potential sales. Gomes Neto indicated Colombia could move faster, citing the government’s recent emphasis on modernizing its military fleet and public criticism from the president about bureaucratic delays following a fatal C-130 crash that claimed 70 lives in March. "Colombia may be in the shorter term because of those events," he said.
By contrast, Embraer regards Chile as a medium-term opportunity. The firm recently displayed the C-390 to Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast at the country’s FIDAE air show last month, a step Gomes Neto described as part of the ongoing outreach.
Beyond Latin America, Embraer last week announced an order for up to 20 C-390 jets from the United Arab Emirates, marking the first confirmed sale of the type in the Middle East. Gomes Neto said that agreement materialized slightly earlier than anticipated amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
On the production front, Gomes Neto described a generally favourable global reception for the aircraft, noting that roughly a dozen countries have selected the C-390. He said supply chains are continuing to recover from constraints that followed the pandemic and that Embraer is streamlining its supply base to support higher output.
Gomes Neto provided specific near-term production targets: Embraer expects to assemble six jets this year and aims to reach a production level of 10 planes by 2030 to underpin the various sales campaigns the company is pursuing.
Those plans reflect a combination of commercial outreach in multiple regions and internal adjustments to manufacturing and supplier performance as Embraer seeks to convert interest into firm orders.