Uzbekistan Unveils First Embraer C-390 Millennium for Central Asia

Embraer has revealed the first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft painted in the colors of the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces, marking a significant milestone as Central Asia’s first acquisition of the military jet, according to reporting by Air Data News.

The aircraft, displayed in two images published on social media by manufacturer Embraer, features an unusual production history that connects it directly to the Brazilian Air Force. While the manufacturer did not disclose the serial number, registration, or expected delivery date of the revealed jet, aviation databases and photographic evidence identify the airframe as MSN 39000019, according to Air Data News.

That specific airframe was previously associated with Brazilian Air Force registration FAB 2861, spotted in June at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto plant wearing Brazilian green and gray camouflage. The aircraft later received the test registration PT-CYQ before flying to Belo Horizonte/Confins International Airport on August 11 for painting by GOL Aerotech, which handles international customer finishes for Embraer, as reported by Air Data News.

Production Sequence and Configuration Changes

The transition from Brazilian military service to Uzbekistan colors highlights adjustments in Embraer’s production and delivery pipeline. When the aircraft arrived at Confins, its military markings were covered while it still wore Brazilian camouflage, according to Air Data News.

A notable physical modification visible on the newly revealed aircraft is the absence of the aerial refueling probe standard on Brazilian KC-390 configurations. This configuration matches Uzbekistan’s intended acquisition of the transport-oriented C-390 version rather than the tanker variant, as reported by Air Data News.

Although Brazil has faced budget constraints affecting military procurement, neither Embraer nor the Brazilian Air Force has stated that the airframe was formally surrendered to accelerate the Uzbek delivery. The Brazilian Air Force’s overall order stands at 19 aircraft following a 2022 renegotiation down from the original 28, meaning another airframe could eventually assume the FAB 2861 identity to preserve the contracted total, according to Air Data News.

Regional Expansion for Embraer

Uzbekistan emerged as the undisclosed Central Asian customer for the C-390 when Embraer confirmed the agreement at the Singapore Airshow in February. The Central Asian nation plans to deploy the aircraft primarily for transport and humanitarian missions, though the manufacturer has not publicly disclosed the financial terms or exact size of the order, according to Air Data News.

The aircraft shown by Embraer now displays a gray Uzbek color scheme, complete with UZ AIR FORCE titles, national military roundels, and the country’s flag. Uzbekistan is expected to take delivery of its first C-390 aircraft later this year, according to Air Data News.