Embraer Hands Over First C-390 Transport to Uzbekistan
Embraer delivered the first of two C-390 military transport aircraft to Uzbekistan on September 25, 2026, at its São Paulo state facility. Uzbekistan becomes the first Central Asian operator of the jet-powered cargo plane. The order was signed in late 2024, and the price and service entry date have not been disclosed.
The aircraft handed over at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility was the first of two C-390s ordered by Uzbekistan. The order was finalized in late 2024, though the buyer was only identified in February 2026. The C-390 can carry 26 tonnes, and Embraer says 13 countries have ordered or selected it. The company’s backlog reached a record US$34.5 billion in June.
According to Airway, the delivered plane had originally been built for Brazil’s air force and was reassigned after Brasília reduced its order. Embraer said the contract includes training, logistical support and spare components. Uzbek air force commander Major General Akhmad Jamolovich Burkhonov attended the ceremony.
For Uzbekistan, adding jet-powered transport may improve military logistics and disaster-response reach, though service entry and costs remain unclear. For Embraer, the sale could strengthen defense exports and support skilled aerospace jobs in São Paulo. Brazilian taxpayers may see little direct change because this is an export, not a domestic purchase. Regional observers may view the deal as a small sign of Central Asian diversification in defense suppliers.