Embraer and Northrop Grumman announced a partnership to upgrade the KC-390 Millennium tanker aircraft with advanced refueling systems and improved communications. The collaboration was revealed during a media event at Melbourne Orlando International Airport on Feb. 19, 2026. Both companies operate major facilities at the airport, employing thousands of workers in Brevard County. The KC-390 is already in service with Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary, with additional orders from the Netherlands, Austria, and other nations.
The KC-390 Millennium, built in Brazil, first flew in 2015 and entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019. Portugal and Hungary adopted the aircraft in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The partnership aims to add an autonomous refueling system and upgraded communications to the plane. Executives from both companies showcased the aircraft during the event, though details about the business plan or potential impacts on local operations were not disclosed.
Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, said the partnership aligns with efforts to deliver military capabilities quickly. "The Secretary of War’s been talking a lot about getting capability to the warfighter as fast as possible," Jones told reporters. "This partnership is one of the great ways to do that." The enhanced KC-390 could eventually serve the U.S. Air Force, though no timeline was provided.
The aircraft’s current operators include the Brazilian, Portuguese, and Hungarian air forces, with the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, South Korea, Sweden, Slovakia, and others placing orders. The upgrades could expand the KC-390’s role in global operations. However, it remains unclear how the partnership will affect Embraer and Northrop Grumman’s existing workforces or facilities in Melbourne. The companies did not specify whether the enhancements will be produced in Florida or Brazil.