Second KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces arrives in Hungary

As part of the national defence and military development program, last autumn the first KC-390 Millenium military transport aircraft with number 610 landed in Kecskemét, and now the one with number 611 did so too. The two aircraft will do very important service at Kecskemét air base as “two siblings” – said the minister, adding that this kind of transport capability was missing from the arsenal of the Hungarian air force, but now it is available, too.

He said that a couple of days earlier, another three L-39 Skyfox tactical training aircraft had also landed in Kecskemét. “The fleet is not yet complete, but the numbers are continuously increasing” – he added.

At the same time, the helicopter fleet of Hungary has been made complete, as “the H145 and the H225 are both here, they are already in use and the necessary support infrastructure will soon be fully completed as well” – he said.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky recalled that in addition, the government of Hungary concluded a contract which is not only about the continuous high-level maintenance of our existing Gripen fighter jets, but also about another four Gripen tactical fighters, which are expected to arrive in Hungary in the next two years.

We need these capabilities indeed, as the Hungarian air force performs its tasks professionally in defence of the country and at an international level, since “currently it is performing duties in the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, already on the fourth occasion, by continuously flying live QRA sorties of high responsibility” – the minister explained.

Marcio Monteiro, Chief Marketing Officer, Embraer Defense & Security emphasized that Hungary made a bold decision to purchase this type as the second country in Europe after Brazil and Portugal, which “well symbolizes its groundbreaking spirit”.

He also said that as an operator of the aircraft type, the government of Hungary was the first to undertake to expand the capabilities of the KC-390 with an Intensive Care Unit, which symbolizes the Hungarian Defence Forces’ commitment to humanitarian missions, and also their ability to respond well even to disaster situations in the service of the public – he added.

He pointed out that after Hungary, several other countries have started procuring the type, such as the Netherlands and Austria, and Sweden is the latest one after the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea, but Slovakia and Lithuania have also indicated their intention in public announcements.

He underscored that the KC-390 military transport aircraft greatly increases the operational capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces and the Hungarian air force, making it possible for Hungary to undertake an even more prominent role in the defence of Europe and within NATO.

He recalled that this week saw the third Millennium User Group Conference, which invited every member of the KC-390 user community to meet in Budapest under the leadership of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

He closed his speech by recalling that the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft of their company that is currently in production is commissioned in more than 20 air forces. The upgraded version of the earlier T-27 Tucano trainer was designed in Brazil in the late 1970s, but is out of production today. More than 600 units of this type were manufactured, many of which have been flying to the present day – he said.

The pilots of several air forces, including the RAF, the French and the Brazil air forces learned the basics of flying with this aircraft type – he explained, adding a less-known fact, namely that Tucano in the ranks of the Embraer is related to a Hungarian engineer, József Kovács, who emigrated to Brazil as a young man and designed more than 50 aircraft. To the present day, the company commemorates József Kovács, who passed away at the age of 93 in 2019, as “the most excellent aircraft designer engineer who ever lived” – he said.

After landing at Kecskemét air base and taxiing to the hangar under two water jets, the KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft was blessed alongside the personnel of the air base by Reformed Military Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Gergely Hankóczy.

It was said at the event that within the framework of the national defence and military development program, the acquisition of the two KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft started in November 2020, which was necessitated by the decommissioning of AN-26 military transport aircraft and the continuously increasing needs of transportation. One important aspect in selecting the type was that the equipment of the aircraft should make its use possible in multiple roles. Its capacity for transporting large cargo loads and its precision delivery capability by parachute airdrop are very important characteristics of this type.

The Hungarian variant of the aircraft is capable of executing air transport tasks quickly and effectively, air-to-air refueling, airdrop missions as well as the transport of casualties and patients in need of intensive care, that is, the execution of so-called MEDEVAC tasks.

The airlifter weight 51 tons when empty, its wingspan is 35 meters, its length is 35 meters, while its height is 12 meters. Its service ceiling is 11,000 meters, its operational range may exceed 8,000 km, while its maximum speed is 988 km/h.