Brazil’s Embraer signs five new MoUs with Poland to boost transport aviation and defense cooperation, including KC-390 Millennium projects.
Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has signed five strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Poland’s state-owned defense group, PGZ, and several of its key subsidiaries. The agreements mark a major step toward deeper industrial and program-level collaboration on the KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft. According to company officials, the MoUs provide a framework for joint work on maintenance, production support, and broader aerospace technologies, aligning with Poland’s ongoing modernization efforts and its goal of expanding domestic aviation capabilities. While specific work shares were not disclosed, executives from both sides noted that the agreements lay the groundwork for long-term cooperation, potentially supporting future procurement or sustainment decisions.
The KC-390 Millennium is a next-generation, medium-lift military transport aircraft developed by Embraer to perform a wide range of missions in demanding conditions. With a maximum payload capacity of 26 tons, it can carry troops, armored vehicles, and cargo pallets, as well as conduct aerial refueling both as a tanker and receiver. The aircraft cruises at speeds up to 470 knots and can operate from semi-prepared or unpaved runways, including dirt, gravel, and packed earth. Equipped with modern fly-by-wire systems, NATO-standard avionics, and rapid reconfiguration capabilities, the KC-390 is suitable for tactical and strategic airlift, MEDEVAC, humanitarian missions, and search-and-rescue operations. Its modular design and high mission-readiness rate make it a strong candidate to replace older C-130 Hercules aircraft in several allied air forces.
In recent years, the KC-390 Millennium has gained increasing traction among NATO members in Europe. Portugal became the first European operator, receiving its initial aircraft in 2023, with full operational capability expected by 2026. Hungary followed, taking delivery of its first 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 is under evaluation by several other European nations, including the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The new partnership with Poland not only opens a potential path for KC-390 procurement but also supports the development of a regional maintenance and industrial base in Central and Eastern Europe, enhancing the aircraft’s logistical appeal for future European operators.
The collaboration aligns Embraer with some of Poland’s most capable defense companies. Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL-1) in Łódź will support the production of composite and metallic components, certification processes, and technology transfer. WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz brings decades of MRO expertise and is expected 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 for Embraer aircraft systems.
The MoUs go beyond aircraft production and maintenance, setting the stage for joint work in supply chain integration, engineering development, and advanced aerospace testing. They also provide a roadmap for Polish companies to increase their manufacturing participation, develop new capabilities, and contribute to Embraer’s European and global operations.
At the signing ceremony, PGZ Vice President Jan Grabowski described the agreements as a strategic breakthrough for Poland’s defense industry: “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.”
Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, highlighted the European significance 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 added that the collaboration extends beyond the KC-390, offering opportunities in C4ISR integration and dual-use aerospace technologies.
During the event, Embraer showcased the KC-390 Millennium and its operational record, which includes a 93 percent mission readiness rate and mission completion rates exceeding 99 percent. The aircraft’s speed, payload capacity, and multi-role versatility make it an attractive solution for modern NATO airlift requirements. Embraer also highlighted the counter-UAS capabilities of its A-29 Super Tucano, a platform increasingly relevant in asymmetric warfare scenarios across Eastern Europe.
While Poland has not yet formally committed to KC-390 procurement, defense sources in Warsaw indicate that a potential acquisition is under serious evaluation by the Ministry of National Defense. If realized, such a purchase would not only enhance Poland’s airlift capabilities but also ensure substantial domestic industrial participation in operation and support.
For Embraer, the agreements represent a major step toward establishing a long-term industrial foothold in Europe. Poland marks a turning point in Embraer’s evolution from a defense hardware exporter to a regional aerospace co-producer. As the two countries deepen their defense cooperation, the KC-390 may evolve into more than just an aircraft—it could become a cornerstone of a new phase of transatlantic defense collaboration.
About the Author
