Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft completed the test to operate on semi-prepared gravel pavements runaway. The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a mid-sized utility transport aircraft. With the support of the Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) the test happened on a 2100 meters unpaved runway created by Embraer, at the Gaviao Peixoto unit, Brazil, in which, 1200 meters were dedicated to gravel pavement with the objective of evaluating takeoffs and landings in this type of terrain. Embraer C-390 Millennium is equipped with low-pressure tires, two 5.9 bar (85 psi) on the nose and four 7.2 bar (105 psi) on either side bogies, which facilitate the aircraft’s use upon soft, unpaved ground, such as austere airstrips, or damaged runways.

With a load capacity of 26 tonnes (57,000 lb), the aircraft can be configured to perform various conventional operations such as troop, VIP and cargo transportation, and more specialised logistical operations such as aerial refuelling as a tanker. It can carry payloads of up to 26 t (57,000 lb), such as two fully-tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer armoured vehicle, a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, 74 litters with life-support equipment, up to 80 soldiers or 66 paratroopers with full gear, and loads of up to 42,000 lb (19 t) can be air dropped. The C-390 can refuel in flight other aircraft through two wing-mounted probe and drogue pods from Cobham plc; these can deliver fuel at up to 1,500 L (400 US gal) per minute from a 35 t (77,000 lb) total fuel capacity.