Morocco in talks to acquire Embraer KC-390 aircraft in $600 million deal

August 21, 2025

Source: Aero Time

Morocco is close to finalizing a deal with Brazil’s Embraer for the purchase of four to five KC-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft, a contract valued at around $600 million.

The prospective agreement could be concluded before the end of 2025, with initial deliveries expected in 2027, according to Defence and Security Alert (DSA). The acquisition would modernize the Royal Moroccan Air Force by phasing out its aging C-130H Hercules aircraft and replacing two KC-130H tankers.

The deal follows a letter of intent signed in October 2024, when Rabat first signaled its intention to purchase the Brazilian aircraft. Embraer’s demonstrator, registered PT-ZNG and painted in Brazilian Air Force markings, conducted flights in the country earlier the same year. Those trials reportedly included local test flights to showcase the aircraft’s performance under Moroccan operating conditions.

The proposed package is expected to include pilot and technician training, logistics support, and potential industrial cooperation in line with Morocco’s ambitions to develop itself as a regional maintenance hub.

KC-390 order to deepen Morocco’s NATO interoperability

If Morocco finalizes the deal, it will become the first African country to select the KC-390, joining a growing list of European and NATO operators that already includes Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Sweden. Its interoperability with NATO would enhance Morocco’s position as a regional partner in multinational operations.

The C-390 can carry up to 26 tons of cargo at a speed of 470 knots (870 kilometers per hour), surpassing the capabilities of Morocco’s current C-130H fleet in terms of payload, speed, and range. Additionally, it can operate from short or unpaved runways, making it particularly well-suited for missions in the Sahel region.

Potential missions for the C-390 include transporting and deploying cargo and troops, medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, firefighting, and humanitarian assistance.