The C-390 Millennium transport aircraft could soon gain its first offensive strike capability, following an agreement between Embraer and Anduril made at the Farnborough Airshow.
Under the signed memorandum of understanding, both companies are pursuing the integration of Anduril’s pallet-launched Barracuda-500M (B-500M) stand-off cruise missile into the C-390.
This capability allows the cargo aircraft to deploy multiple missiles simultaneously while retaining its core airlift and support functions, contributing to the C-390’s evolution as a multi-mission platform and force multiplier.
The work timeline has not been disclosed, but Embraer Defense & Security President and CEO Bosco Da Costa Junior said it can be done quickly, noting Anduril’s “very efficient, very flexible” methods, as per Breaking Defense.
“By exploring the integration of stand-off launch capabilities for palletized, kinetic, and non-kinetic effects, we are further expanding the aircraft’s flexibility to meet the evolving needs of modern air forces,” said Da Costa.
Palletized B-500M
The pallet-launched B-500M is derived from the Barracuda-500, a modular and mass-producible missile with a range of more than 500 nautical miles (575 miles/926 kilometers) and speed of 190 to 500 knots (352 to 926 kilometers/219 to 575 miles per hour).
Anduril completed the munition’s first successful flight test in September 2024.
Multi-Mission Aircraft
The C-390 can carry up to 26 tons of payload, more than comparable medium-sized military transport aircraft, according to Embraer.
It flies at a maximum speed of 470 knots (870 kilometers/540 miles per hour), and can take off from paved and unpaved surfaces.
Beyond tactical airlift roles, the C-390 can also be transformed into the KC-390 tanker-transport variant upon a quick installation of air-to-air refueling equipment.
The C-390 is in service with or on order by several air forces, including Czechia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
