Czech Republic Expands Air Force Capabilities with Purchase of Embraer C-390 Millennium Aircraft
WARSAW, Poland — In a significant move to bolster its military transport capabilities, the Czech Ministry of Defence has officially signed a deal to procure two Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. This acquisition marks the Czech Republic as the fifth NATO member to incorporate the Brazilian-made aircraft into its air force.
Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová emphasized the importance of such military capabilities, citing recent evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan as examples of the need for effective long-distance transportation of personnel and heavy cargo. “I am therefore very pleased that we have managed to buy aircraft for our Air Force that are capable of performing these tasks,” she stated.
Under the current agreement, the first two C-390 aircraft are scheduled for delivery to the Czech military within the coming year. The Czech defense industry will collaborate with Embraer on this procurement, fostering local involvement in the production process.
The deal includes an Industrial Cooperation Agreement with Embraer, finalized earlier this month, although the Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the total value of the agreement. However, it has been reported that the overall program is valued at over $82.3 million. Notably, Czech company Aero Vodochody is already part of the supply chain, manufacturing various components for the C-390.
This purchase follows a similar decision made by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Defence in September 2023, which opted to acquire four C-390 aircraft to replace its aging C-130 Hercules fleet, with the procurement estimated at over €500 million ($540 million).
In addition to the Czech Republic and Austria, the Embraer C-390 has been selected by several other nations including Brazil, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, and South Korea. The versatile twin-engine aircraft boasts a maximum payload of approximately 26 metric tons and can cruise at speeds up to 0.8 Mach, making it suitable for various military operations, including the transport of 64 fully equipped paratroopers.
This development reflects ongoing efforts by NATO allies to modernize their military assets in an increasingly complex global security environment.
Reporting by Jaroslaw Adamowski, Defense News Correspondent
