The Swedish Air Force signed a major agreement with the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer, deciding to procure four C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. With the signing ceremony held on October 6 at Uppsala Air Base, Sweden became the eighth country in Europe and the ninth worldwide to choose Embraer’s modern cargo aircraft.
Partnership Expands: A New NATO Member Joins the C-390 Family
Sweden’s purchase not only modernizes its own air force but also adds a new NATO member to the strategic European partnership built around the C-390 platform. This partnership brings together countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, and the Netherlands. Under the agreement, the aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to Sweden by 2027, and the contract also includes an option to purchase seven additional units.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized that this purchase represents a significant milestone in the modernization and strengthening of the Air Force. Minister Jonson stated, “I believe that with the C-390 Millennium, we will increase our operational efficiency and enhance interoperability with our European partners.”
Bosco da Costa Junior, CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, noted that this partnership reinforces the C-390 Millennium’s growing reputation as a new standard for tactical airlift among European and NATO countries.
The C-390’s Proven Reliability and Capabilities
The C-390 Millennium is drawing attention for its performance in the countries where it has entered service. According to Embraer, the C-390 fleet, which entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, in 2023, and in 2024, the C-390 fleet—which entered service with the Hungarian Air Force—has proven its reliability by achieving a 93% combat readiness rate and a mission completion rate exceeding 99 %.
Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman and Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek, Director of National Armaments for the Austrian Armed Forces, also expressed their satisfaction with expressed their satisfaction with Sweden’s participation and noted that this partnership will further strengthen security and interoperability across Europe.
Technical Specifications of the C-390 Millennium
A major achievement in Brazil’s aviation industry, the twin-turbofan-powered C-390 Millennium (formerly known as the KC-390) was designed for high flexibility. The aircraft can be reconfigured in less than three hours to support various missions.
Key Features:
Cargo Capacity: It can carry up to 26 metric tons of cargo, including armored vehicles, or 84 military personnel.
Versatility: It can perform core missions such as airdrop, in-flight refueling, airborne deployment, firefighting, and MEDEVAC (medical evacuation).
Technology: It features fly-by-wire technology and is capable of in-flight refueling.
Range and Takeoff: It can take off from runways as short as 1,500 meters while carrying a 23-metric-ton payload and has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers.
Sweden’s decision to select this modern and versatile transport aircraft significantly enhances the country’s tactical aerial refueling capabilities while reinforcing the trend toward the widespread adoption of the C-390 platform in Europe.
