The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) KC-07 Millennium took off this Monday afternoon (390), which will transport repatriated Brazilians who fled Ukraine due to the war with Russia.
belonging to Zeus Squadron (1st Troop Transport Group), the military freighter developed by Embraer is destined for the Polish capital, Warsaw, where Brazilian citizens who fled the country in conflict will be embarked.
About 15 soldiers make up the crew. The trip includes stops in Recife (PE), Sal Island (Cape Verde) and Lisbon (Portugal), with arrival scheduled on Wednesday (09). The return of returnees will take place on the same day, with a landing in Brazil planned for Thursday (10), informs the Ministry of Defense.
The aircraft is also transporting 11,6 tons of humanitarian donations to the country, which according to the FAB, includes “50 water purifiers, of national technology and manufacture; 50 voltaic kits with solar to supply the equipment with energy autonomously; 10 tons of dehydrated foods with a high nutritional content (400 meals); and 5 medicine kits for medical emergencies, coming from public stocks managed by the Ministry of Health, without compromising the national supply.”
The cargo was loaded on Sunday night (06) in a KC-390 at Guarulhos Airport (SP) and taken to Anápolis Air Base (GO), headquarters of the 1st GTT. Afterwards, it was transferred to another KC-390, the same one that took off today.
“Planning, a fundamental part of the process, was a challenge that demanded attention to every detail and, in this context, our entire team has been working uninterruptedly so that the mission is carried out efficiently, safely and without obstacles”, highlighted the Chief of the Operations Section of the First Troop Transport Group (1st GTT), Major Aviator Daniel Elias Souza.
“At this moment, we are convinced that the flag of Brazil will once again be raised to a high level by our crews, representing, internationally, all the professionalism, altruism and dedication of the various sectors of the Brazilian Air Force”
Called Operation Repatriation, the interministerial action is carried out between the Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Defense (MD), Foreign Affairs (MRE) and Health (MS) portfolios.
The aircraft registration FAB2855 left Brasília at 15:12 pm, under the call code ZEUS13. The 2855 is the third KC-390 delivered to the Air Force and was incorporated in June 2020. In all, the FAB has five aircraft of the model and should get another 17.
The flight can be followed in real time through the websites Flightaware.com e Flightradar24.com. Check it out below.
The KC-390 aircraft
Manufactured by Embraer in partnership with the FAB, the KC-390 Millennium is a multi-mission tactical freighter, capable of transporting 80 soldiers or 26 tons of cargo. The first flight of a KC-390 took place in February 2015 and the FAB received its first aircraft in 2019.
Initially, 28 aircraft were contracted, but budgetary restrictions forced the FAB to unilaterally reduce the contract. After negotiations with Embraer, the two parties reached an agreement and the order was reduced to 22 aircraft.
Learn more about the KC-390 in this special report and in this series of videos produced by Portal Aeroflap.
