Netherlands buys Brazilian-made military transport aircraft

The Dutch Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the acquisition of nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow.

This deal forms part of the “Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity” project, which is a joint procurement effort with Austria. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will receive five aircraft, while the Austrian Air Force will take delivery of four.

The joint purchase aims to enhance both countries’ ability to rapidly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel worldwide, even under challenging operational conditions. The C-390 Millennium’s advanced tactical airlift capabilities promise to increase operational flexibility and responsiveness, providing robust logistical support across various missions, including humanitarian and medical operations.

The C-390 Millennium from Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer offers numerous advantages over its predecessors and competitors. The aircraft boasts superior performance, greater reliability, and a higher transport capacity.

The aircraft can carry a payload of up to 26 tons, fly faster at 470 knots, and operate on temporary or unpaved runways, making it suitable for a wide range of missions such as cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian efforts.