Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced on its X.com profile that it has produced the first aircraft for Uzbekistan.
The manufacturer published photos of a C-390 Millennium aircraft inside a hangar. The aircraft bears the inscription “UZ AIR FORCE”, the registration number UK 39010 and the Uzbek flag on its fuselage, while its wings feature roundels in the colors of the national flag.
Uzbekistan has become the first customer of the C-390 in Central Asia, the company said.
Embraer first announced Uzbekistan’s purchase of C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft at the Singapore Airshow in February. According to the announcement, the aircraft will be used primarily for transport and humanitarian missions.
The C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft has been manufactured by Embraer since 2014. It has a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes and can reach a cruising speed of up to 470 knots (870 km/h).
The aircraft is used to transport cargo and passengers, as well as for search-and-rescue and humanitarian operations, medical evacuations and aerial firefighting. It is also capable of operating from temporary and unpaved runways.
Information about Uzbekistan’s interest in Embraer aircraft first emerged in 2019. Ilhom Mahkamov, who was then the First Deputy Minister of Transport, said that Uzbekistan Airways planned to use smaller-capacity aircraft on domestic routes.
“We are planning to acquire aircraft such as Bombardier and Embraer, with capacities of 70, 80 and 90 passengers. They offer higher transport efficiency and lower operating costs. Larger aircraft will be used for long-haul flights”, the official said.
In March 2023, representatives of Uzbekistan’s civil aviation sector held a roundtable with a delegation from Embraer. João Pedro Taborda, vice president of the Brazilian company, said Embraer was ready to supply short- and medium-haul aircraft.
The parties reached a preliminary agreement on the purchase of E195-E2 aircraft under Embraer’s special promotional programme. The meeting also covered the diversification of international flight routes to increase tourist flows to Uzbekistan.
Embraer presented the E195-E2 in Uzbekistan in July 2023. The company showed the aircraft to media representatives and conducted a demonstration flight from Tashkent to Samarkand and back.
The English version of this material was generated with the assistance of AI translation tools and may differ slightly from the original text.
