Austria to Acquire 4 Multi-Mission Airlift Embraer C-390 Millennium from Brazil.

On July 22, 2024, the Austrian Ministry of Defense signed a contract to acquire nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow. As part of the "Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity" project, the contract is a joint purchase in cooperation with the Netherlands – four aircraft for the Austrian Air Force and five aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
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This contract is a joint purchase in cooperation with the Netherlands and Austria. (Picture source: Embraer)

With this joint order, both countries aim to increase their ability to rapidly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel worldwide, even under difficult operational conditions. The enhanced tactical airlift capacity provided by the C-390 increases operational flexibility and responsiveness, provides logistical support in various missions and operations, and enables a wide range of humanitarian and medical tasks.

The joint purchase will also allow both nations – as well as current and future operators – to cooperate and benefit from synergies in areas such as training, logistics, and future growth of the platform, together with other C-390 operators in NATO nations. The C-390 Millennium offers maximum operational readiness, enabling interoperability and connectivity in networked environments and multiple domains.

The C-390 will improve operational capacity by offering better performance, greater reliability, and higher transport capacity. Additionally, the choice of the C-390 ensures that the Austrian and Royal Dutch Air Forces are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to meet the mission demands of the future.

“It is great that we can sign this agreement for both Austria and 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 Embraer’s contribution and look forward to successful cooperation,” said Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, National Armaments Director of the Netherlands.

“We welcome Austria and the Netherlands 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 service,” said Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “This aircraft is the best choice in the market, offering an unbeatable combination of high performance, advanced technology, and low life cycle costs.”

Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has proven its capacity, reliability, and performance. The current fleet of aircraft in service has accumulated more than 13,000 flight hours, with a mission-capable rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.

The C-390 can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, designated KC-390, can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver, also receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.

A global aerospace company based in Brazil, Embraer is active in commercial and executive aviation, defense and security, and agricultural aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets aircraft and systems, providing services and after-sales support to customers. Since its founding in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft.

Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high-value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service centers, and parts distribution centers, among other activities, in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Recently, the Brazilian company has made some impressive moves, and with these two new contracts, it seems poised to continue on this path. We are already eager to see if it will continue in the future.