Aircraft
Colombia 13th Nation To Select KC-390 Millennium
Two-unit contract represents first Latin American order beyond Brazil
KC-390 with two Gripen receiving fuel mid-air
In November 2025, the Brazilian Air Force completed the in-flight refueling certification flight-test campaign for the KC-390 and the Saab Gripen fighter. Colombia will operate both these types.

Colombia has officially selected the Embraer KC-390 multi-mission airlifter, ordering two units and becoming the first Latin American customer beyond Brazil. A formal $366 million contract, announced on August 4, also makes Colombia the 13th nation worldwide for the versatile C-390.

The acquisition of the KC-390—the aerial-refueling-configured variant of Embraer’s popular platform—represents “a significant milestone in the modernization of Colombia’s airlift and aerial refueling capabilities,” explained the Brazilian OEM. The first aircraft is expected to arrive in Colombia in 2029, with the second following in 2030.

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