International Aero Engines (IAE) will begin building the first engine for the Brazilian KC-390 multirole tanker/transport aircraft the week following the Paris Air Show.

The event kicks off the action for an engine program that is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. For the Airbus A320 series application, the IAE V2500 is heading for its highest annual production run ever, with delivery of more than 500 engines planned this year and next.

IAE will build the V2500-E5 engines for the KC-390 at its Middletown, Connecticut facility, where all engine production will eventually be based. Flight tests of the first engine will be carried out on the first KC-390, in 2014, with certification scheduled for later that year.

The V2500-E5 for the KC-390 is almost identical to the existing V2500-A5 version powering the Airbus series, with minor modifications to the accessories and mounting system. Beatty said there were no further military applications in the pipeline, but added “we’re always looking for new opportunities.”