Embraer and WZL-2 Sign KC-390 Maintenance Agreement in Poland

Embraer and Polish aerospace maintenance provider Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 S.A. (WZL-2) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish local maintenance and support capabilities for the KC-390 Millennium. The partnership directly supports the Brazilian manufacturer’s ongoing bid to supply Poland’s future multi-role military-aircraft and aerial refueling fleet.

The agreement was finalized on June 25, 2026, at Embraer facilities in São José dos Campos, Brazil. According to the official press release, the framework encompasses a broad range of industrial cooperation, including services and support, aircraft completion and conversion, external painting, and system integration for the KC-390 platform. WZL-2 operates as a key entity within the state-owned Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) Group.

Strategic positioning in Poland’s transport competition

The Polish Ministry of National Defence is currently evaluating options to replace and expand its transport aviation capabilities. The KC-390 Millennium is competing against platforms such as the Airbus A400M Atlas and the Airbus A330 MRTT. To strengthen its proposal, Embraer has systematically built a network of local industrial partnerships since late 2025.

In December 2025, Embraer signed five initial Memoranda of Understanding with Polish defense companies in Warsaw. This was followed by a formal presentation of the KC-390 Millennium to WZL-2 personnel in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in March 2026. The March event allowed local engineers and technicians to evaluate the aircraft and outline potential maintenance activities, culminating in the formal agreement signed on June 25.

Building a local industrial ecosystem

The collaboration aims to ensure that if Poland selects the KC-390, the domestic defense industry will have the sovereign capability to maintain and support the fleet. WZL-2 President of the Management Board Jakub Gazda stated that the goal is to develop industrial and maintenance capabilities in Poland to support the operation of the aircraft while strengthening the country’s broader aerospace sector.

“We believe that combining Embraer’s experience with WZL No. 2’s capabilities will bring tangible benefits to both the Polish Armed Forces and the entire Polish defense industry,” Gazda said in the company statement.

Douglas Lobo, Vice-President of Customer Support and Aftermarket Sales for Embraer Services and Support, noted that the partnership reinforces the company strategy of fostering local industrial cooperation. Lobo indicated the collaboration will contribute to job creation, skills development, and technology transfer, forming the foundation of a long-term industrial ecosystem in Poland.

KC-390 Millennium capabilities and recent momentum

The Embraer C-390 Millennium features a maximum concentrated payload capacity of 26 tonnes and a maximum cruising speed of 870 km/h. The platform has secured several recent operational and maintenance milestones in the weeks leading up to the Polish agreement.

On June 18, 2026, Embraer signed a comprehensive service and support agreement to enhance the operational availability of the Brazilian Air Force KC-390 fleet. Shortly after, on June 23, 2026, Embraer and its Portuguese subsidiary OGMA concluded the first scheduled maintenance on a C-390 Millennium operated by the Hungarian Air Force.

AirPro News analysis

We view Embraer’s formalization of the WZL-2 partnership as a necessary and expected maneuver in the European defense procurement landscape. Sovereign maintenance capability is a baseline requirement for NATO members modernizing their strategic airlift fleets. By locking in a maintenance framework with a primary PGZ subsidiary, Embraer effectively neutralizes one of the primary advantages typically held by European competitors like Airbus. The progression from initial memorandums in late 2025 to a structured industrial agreement demonstrates that Embraer is treating the Polish transport competition as a high-priority campaign.

Sources: Embraer