Netherlands-Austria buy 9 Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft in joint order at Farnborough Air Show

Collaborative effort to enhance tactical airlift capabilities & operational flexibility

At the ongoing Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, Dutch and Austrian Ministries of Defence have jointly acquired nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft to enhance their tactical airlift capabilities.

In a landmark move to bolster tactical airlift capabilities, the Dutch Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for the acquisition of nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Air Show that began in the United Kingdom on Monday.

In a press statement, Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, says the contract is a joint purchase, in cooperation with Austria, allocating five aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and four to the Austrian Air Force.

It adds that the joint order will boost both countries ability to rapidly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel globally, even in challenging conditions. The C-390 enhances tactical airlift capacity, operational flexibility, and responsiveness, supporting various missions and enabling humanitarian and medical tasks.

Embraer says that the C-390 will enhance operational capacity with better performance, greater reliability, and higher transport capacity. It ensures the Royal Dutch and Austrian Air Forces are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for future mission demands.

It adds that 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 fleet has accumulated over 13,000 flight hours with a mission capable rate of 93 pc and completion rates above 99 pc. The C-390 carries 26 tonnes, flies at 470 knots, and performs a range of missions, including cargo transport, troop drops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions, even on unpaved runways, says Embraer.

“It is great that we can sign this agreement for both Austria and the Netherlands. I am 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 realisation of this agreement. We appreciate the contribution of Embraer and look forward to a successful cooperation,” says 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. This aircraft is the best choice in the market, offering an unbeatable combination of high performance, advanced technology and low life cycle costs,” says Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO, Embraer Defence & Security.