27 December 2019: The KC-390 Millennium airlifter has successfully carried out the testing campaign for gravity airdrop and extraction drop of heavy loads by the use of the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD), respectively.
The airlifter has a fully automated Cargo Handling and Aerial Delivery System on the cargo compartment, were a loadmaster can carry out all activities, while decreasing workload and enhancing awareness. For the pilots, a system called CCDP (Continuously Computed Drop Point) calculates the optimum airdrop release point for better accuracy on the mission accomplishment. Embraer developed both the systems
The tests were carried out by Embraer in cooperation with the Brazilian Air Force and Brazilian Army. It was performed at the US Army Yuma Proving Ground facilities, in Arizona, USA. Main achievements of the testing campaign were the airdrop of a single maximum platform with 19 metric tons (42,000 lb) as well as the sequential aerial delivery of two platforms weighing 24 metric tons in total. Based on these results, the KC-390 Millennium becomes the only medium airlifter able to carry out such extreme operation.
Additional achievements of the testing campaign were the following:
- Sequential aerial delivery by extraction with up to four platforms in one pass;
- Airdrop by extraction using two 28-feet extraction parachutes with autopilot engaged;
- Continuously Computed Drop Point (CCDP) system successfully tested for both gravity and extraction airdrop, demonstrating excellent accuracy.