The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Embraer have entered into a contract for a new Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II) unit. This will be the second such device for the FAB, capable of being swiftly installed on any KC-390 multi-mission aircraft in the FAB's fleet. With the MAFFS II, the KC-390 can deploy around 12,000 litres of water in 7 seconds per flight.
"MAFFS II System has demonstrated high reaction capability in emergency situations that have occurred in many of Brazil’s regions. In total, the KC-390 equipped with the Fire Fighting System has already dropped more than one million litres of water this year. Our decision to expand this capacity is due to the high efficiency of MAFFS II, proven in more than 100 flights, and the demand we have for tools such as this one," said Lieutenant-Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, Air Force Commander.
"The KC-390 has proven its versatility in critical missions for the country, such as fighting fires in the Pantanal, the Amazon, and São Paulo during 2024. With the acquisition of this new MAFFS II unit, FAB will double its operational performance in these operations. We are very pleased with the progress of the multi-mission platform manufactured by Embraer in meeting the country's needs," said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Since joining the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the aircraft has achieved 93% operational availability and mission completion rates exceeding 99%, showcasing remarkable efficiency in its class. Besides Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary, the C-390 has been procured by the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, and South Korea. Sweden recently confirmed its choice of the C-390 Millennium, while Slovakia and South Africa have identified the C-390 as the top option for modernizing their transport aircraft fleets.
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