Greece signs for three KC-390 transport aircraft in deal with Portugal

Three aircraft signed for

Greece's Ministry of National Defence signed a contract on Monday, 2 November 2026, for three Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft. The purchase is made through an intergovernmental agreement with Portugal, and the contract carries an option for three more aircraft. Deliveries are set to begin in 2027. The signing took place at the Greek defence ministry in the presence of Portugal's defence minister, Nuno Melo.

Defence minister Nikos Dendias said the agreement gives the close ties between the two countries their first concrete defence content. He described the deal as bringing two firsts for the air force: the acquisition of jet-powered transport aircraft and the ability to refuel fighters in the air.

Refuelling fighters in flight

Dendias said the in-flight refuelling capability would first apply to the Rafale and Mirage, and about a year later to the F-16s. According to OnAlert, the aircraft will carry a special kit that allows them to operate as flying tankers for the Rafale and Mirage. The Millennium aircraft will also receive a special refuelling package for the F-16s in a second phase.

“There is no way I can underline how huge an advantage this aerial refuelling capability gives our fighter aircraft.”

Dendias argued that without tanker support, a fighter's mission length is limited by the fuel it carries. With refuelling in flight, he said, the main limit becomes the endurance of the pilot. To illustrate the strategic value, he cited the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. In his account, had Greece then had tanker aircraft for its fighters, the invasion could not have happened and its beachhead could not have been held.

Portugal, costs and industry

A Portuguese Council of Ministers decision, published on 22 October 2026, provides for up to about 590 million euros plus VAT for the three aircraft and related services. Portugal's Nuno Melo described the agreement as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in aircraft maintenance, training, the exchange of know-how and the development of new capabilities. He also said the two countries discussed joint work on a floating platform for transporting unmanned aircraft, as well as co-production of drones and other defence systems.

Contracted3

Option3

Contracted

3 aircraft

Option

3 aircraft

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Embraer signed a memorandum with the Greek Aerospace Industry (EAB) in May 2026 to build maintenance, repair and technical support capabilities for the KC-390 in Greece. In its statement on the contract, Embraer said the Greek choice reflects confidence from leading NATO member states. The company added that the KC-390 has also been acquired by Brazil, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates and Colombia.

What comes next

The Hellenic Air Force is due to receive its first KC-390 Millennium in 2027, according to Embraer. Greece becomes the seventh European country to choose the aircraft, after Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Sweden. The three optional aircraft have not been ordered yet, and the in-flight refuelling capability is planned to reach the Rafale and Mirage first, with the F-16s to follow about a year later.