The Brazilian air force and Embraer completed a preliminary design review of the KC-390 tanker in August, the company says.

"We checked all the main aspects of the aircraft's project and the KC-390 meets the Brazilian air force's expectations," says Col Sergio Carneiro, the Brazilian air force's KC-390 programme manager.

The review was undertaken at Embraer's facilities in Eugênio de Melo from 20 August to 29 August.

The next major step is the critical design review, which will clear the way to build the first flying prototype, Embraer says.

The KC-390 will be the largest aircraft ever built by the Brazilian aerospace industry. Embraer says "it will establish a new standard for mid-sized military transport aircraft, in terms of performance and load capacity."

Source: Flight International