Portugal and Greece are scheduled to sign an agreement this Monday for the sale of three Embraer KC-390 aircraft. The transaction, valued at approximately €590 million, includes the planes along with associated equipment and services. According to official sources from the Portuguese Ministry of Defense, the deal is projected to generate a return of €33 million for the Portuguese state, equating to roughly €11 million per aircraft sold.
The signing ceremony will take place at the Greek Ministry of Defense in Athens at 11:45 local time. The event follows a meeting between Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo and his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, as well as discussions between delegations from both nations. The contract will be formally signed by António José Baptista, Director-General of Armament and Heritage of National Defense for Portugal, and Major General Ioannis Bouras, Director-General of the Directorate of Investments and Defense Armament for Greece. They will be joined by both ministers and Air Force Chief of Staff General Sérgio Pereira.
The financial return for Portugal stems from its involvement in the development and production of the KC-390, as well as its role in adapting and certifying the aircraft to meet NATO requirements. This certification enables the commercialization of the planes to other allied nations. The agreement outlines a phased delivery schedule, with the first aircraft expected in 2027, followed by subsequent deliveries in 2029 and 2031. All units will be delivered in the configuration developed by Portugal to comply with established NATO standards.
Portugal will oversee production supervision, acceptance processes, and the operational transition for the Greek Air Force. Additionally, initial training for Greek crews and mechanics will be conducted at the Beja Air Base. The contract encompasses mission equipment, support for entry into service, and post-delivery assistance. This sale follows an amendment signed in September 2025 between Portugal and Embraer, which established an option to acquire up to ten additional units specifically for sale to allied countries.
The Portuguese government authorized the necessary expenditure of €589.98 million, including VAT, via a Council of Ministers resolution published on October 22. This amount, distributed between 2026 and 2031, will be fully financed by revenues from the contract with Athens. Approximately €532.9 million is allocated for the purchase of the aircraft and a logistical support package, while the remaining €57.1 million covers electronic warfare equipment, training, logistics, technical team support in Greece, and program management. The KC-390 is a versatile military transport aircraft capable of firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuations, and humanitarian missions.
Sources: Observador.