On 2 November 2026, Greece put its signature to a deal covering three Embraer KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, arranged through a bilateral agreement with Portugal, as Air Data News and Aerospace Global News both report. For the Hellenic Air Force, the purchase represents a meaningful step forward in both airlift and tanker capability.
Total authorised expenditure under the contract stands at roughly €590 million, entirely funded by Greece. Of that figure, approximately €533 million is allocated to the three aircraft and an initial support package provided by Embraer and Embraer Portugal, according to Air Data News. The balance covers programme management, training, technical support and electronic warfare equipment, as both Air Data News and Aerospace Global News note.
The Path to Contract
The road to signing the contract stretched back several years. According to Air Data News, Embraer brought the KC-390 to Elefsina Air Base in June 2023 for a demonstration before Hellenic Air Force officials, laying the groundwork for what ultimately became a substantial national commitment. Active negotiations with Portugal were publicly confirmed by Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias in May 2026, as Air Data News reported at the time.
Portugal's own approval of the transaction came first. The Portuguese government authorised its side of the deal on 22 October 2026, Air Data News and Aerospace Global News both report, clearing the way for the formal signing ten days later.
The procurement structure Greece has used relies heavily on groundwork laid by Portugal well before the deal was concluded. According to Aerospace Global News, Portugal established options in 2025 covering as many as ten further KC-390s, set aside expressly for government-to-government sales, which gave Lisbon the means to serve as an intermediary for allied nations seeking the type.
What Greece Is Getting with the KC-390 Millennium
The three aircraft ordered come with options for a further three KC-390s, which Greece could exercise as its requirements develop, according to Air Data News and Aerospace Global News.
The KC-390 Millennium is a capable platform by any measure. The type can carry up to 26 metric tonnes of payload and cruise at 470 knots, as both Air Data News and Aerospace Global News note. The configuration acquired by Greece includes equipment for air-to-air refuelling, allowing the aircraft to transfer fuel to other aircraft, and the aircraft can also receive fuel itself, extending its own range, according to Air Data News and Aerospace Global News.
Aerospace Global News also reports that the KC-390 is capable of operating from unpaved runways, a characteristic that broadens the range of airfields and forward locations from which the Hellenic Air Force can operate. That combination of payload, speed and field performance sets the KC-390 apart from older generation transports.
Readers wanting to explore the KC-390 and other Embraer types in more detail can do so using our Manufacturer Search tool.
Delivery and European Context
Delivery of the first KC-390 to Greece is expected in 2027, according to both Air Data News and Aerospace Global News. With Portuguese approval granted in October 2026 and the contract concluded in November, the programme timeline looks well established at this stage.
Greece's purchase places it among a growing group of European operators. According to Aerospace Global News, Embraer counts Greece as the seventh European country to choose the KC-390, following Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Sweden. The expanding roster points to the aircraft having become the benchmark option for European air forces retiring older tactical transports, and further cements Portugal's position as a central node in coordinating procurement of the type across the region.
The Bottom Line
The Greek KC-390 Millennium contract is notable on several levels. The €590 million commitment is a major defence investment for Athens, and the government-to-government route through Portugal gives the deal a regional dimension that goes beyond a straightforward bilateral sale between Greece and Embraer.
The options for three additional aircraft are worth watching. If Greece exercises them, the Hellenic Air Force would operate up to six KC-390s, giving it a genuinely flexible mix of heavy airlift, aerial refuelling and receiver capability within a single fleet type. With first delivery pencilled in for 2027, the next milestone will be confirmation of the initial handover date.
This article draws on reporting by Air Data News and Aerospace Global News.
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