The Netherlands, with a recently signed contract, will acquire nine C-390 Millennium aircraft from Brazil-based aerospace company, Embraer.
As part of the project ‘Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity’, the contract which was signed during the Farnborough Air Show, is a joint purchase, in cooperation with Austria.
The five of the aircraft will be for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the remaining four for the Austrian Air Force.
Through this joint order, both nations seek to boost their capability to swiftly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel globally, even in challenging operational environments.
The C-390’s improved tactical airlift capacity enhances operational flexibility and responsiveness, supports logistics for various missions, and facilitates a broad spectrum of humanitarian and medical operations.
The joint acquisition will enable both countries, along with current and future operators, to collaborate and leverage synergies in training, logistics, and the platform's future development. This cooperation will extend to other C-390 operators within NATO.
The C-390 Millennium ensures peak operational readiness, enhancing interoperability and connectivity across networked environments and various domains.
The C-390 will enhance operational capabilities by providing superior performance, increased reliability, and greater transport capacity.
National Armaments Director of the Netherlands Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman said on the contract that it is great that they can sign the agreement for both Austria as the Netherlands.
“I'm happy to see that we can buy these planes with the same specifications. This is a good example of collaboration in Europe between countries. The constructive support of Embraer has played a crucial role in the successful realization of this agreement. We appreciate the contribution of Embraer and look forward to a successful cooperation,” he said.
Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, for his part, said: “We welcome the Netherlands and Austria as the newest members of the growing group of nations that have ordered the C-390 Millennium, the most efficient and modern military tactical transport currently in operation.”
“This aircraft is the best choice in the market, offering an unbeatable combination of high performance, advanced technology and low life cycle costs,” he added.
Since its introduction with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has demonstrated its capacity, reliability, and performance.
The current fleet has accumulated over 13,000 flight hours, maintaining a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%, reflecting outstanding productivity in its class.
The C-390 stands out among medium-sized military transport aircraft for its higher payload capacity of 26 tons, superior speed of 470 knots, and extended range. It is versatile, capable of executing a variety of missions including cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian aid, even from temporary or unpaved runways.
Additionally, the air-to-air refueling variant, the KC-390, can function both as a tanker and a receiver, including receiving fuel from another KC-390 equipped with wing-mounted pods.
