The Dutch Ministry of Defence signed a contract to acquire nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow. The contract is part of the "Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity" project and involves a joint purchase with Austria. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will acquire five aircraft while the Austrian Air Force will acquire four.
With this joint order, both countries aim to increase their ability to quickly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel worldwide, even under challenging operational conditions. The improved tactical airlift capacity provided by the C-390 enhances operational flexibility and responsiveness, offers logistical support in various missions and operations, and enables a wide range of humanitarian and medical tasks.
The joint purchase will also enable both nations, as well as current and future operators, to cooperate and benefit from synergies in areas such as training, logistics, and the future growth of the platform, along with other C-390 operators in NATO nations. The C-390 Millennium provides maximum operational readiness, enabling interoperability and connectivity in networked environments and across 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 Royal Dutch and Austrian 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 the contribution of Embraer and look forward to a successful cooperation”, said Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, National Armaments Director of the Netherlands.
“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”, said Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO, of Embraer Defence & Security. “This aircraft is the best choice in the market, offering an unbeatable combination of high performance, advanced technology and low life cycle costs.”
Ever since it became operational with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has demonstrated its capability, reliability, and performance. The existing fleet of aircraft has collectively flown for over 13,000 hours, with a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates exceeding 99%, showcasing exceptional productivity in its category.
The C-390 military transport aircraft has a higher payload capacity of 26 tons compared to other medium-sized aircraft. It also flies faster at 470 knots and can cover longer distances, making it suitable for a wide range of missions such as cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions. It can operate on temporary or unpaved runways. When equipped with air-to-air refuelling equipment, it can also serve as a tanker (KC-390) and be refuelled in mid-air from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
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