According to Military Africa (August 16, 2025), Brazil’s aerospace company Embraer is close to securing a major contract with the Royal Moroccan Air Force for the delivery of four to five KC-390 Millennium aircraft. Worth over $600 million, the deal would significantly modernize Morocco’s airlift capabilities while reducing reliance on its aging C-130 Hercules fleet.
Powered by two turbofan engines, the KC-390 reaches speeds of 870 km/h and carries up to 26 tons of cargo—enough for armored vehicles, helicopters, or 80 fully equipped troops. Its large cargo hold, advanced loading system, and rear ramp ensure rapid deployment and flexible mission profiles.
Morocco’s current C-130H aircraft, while rugged and battle-proven, are limited to 20 tons of payload and slower speeds. With many airframes serving for more than four decades, maintenance costs and availability rates have become pressing issues. By contrast, the KC-390 offers modern avionics, a fly-by-wire flight control system, and lower life-cycle costs, giving Morocco long-term operational and financial advantages.
The aircraft can also serve as an aerial tanker, operate from short or semi-prepared runways, and defend itself with a modern electronic warfare suite. These features make it highly effective for remote operations in the Sahara and Sahel regions.
Strategically, the acquisition would help Morocco narrow the air mobility gap with Algeria—whose air force operates heavier Russian Il-76 transports—and strengthen interoperability with NATO standards. The KC-390’s ability to support rapid troop insertion, medical evacuation, and aerial refueling for Moroccan F-16Vs further expands the country’s expeditionary options.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027 if the deal is finalized by the end of 2025. For Morocco, it would mark not just a fleet renewal but also a strategic diversification away from exclusive reliance on U.S. platforms—while for Embraer, it underscores the KC-390’s growing status as a credible competitor to the C-130J on the global stage.
