C-390 user group expands
October 8, 2024
The user group for Brazil’s Embraer C-390 has expanded in recent days.
Following evaluation of a Brazilian Air Force C-390 (registered as PT-ZNG) at Rabat in March 2024, Morocco has apparently joined the C-390 User Group, with the Moroccan flag appearing on a Powerpoint slide at a recent conference of the group, according to Defense Atlas, a Moroccan defence account on X, alongside the flags of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea , the Czech Republic, the UAE and Chile. The inclusion of Morocco, the UAE and Chile was unexpected, as none were thought to have ordered the type, though letters of intent have reportedly been signed by Argentina, Chile, and Colombia while Angola, Egypt, Greece, India, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Sweden have all also been cited as potential customers.
It had previously been reported that negotiations between Morocco and the Brazilian company to manufacture the aircraft locally had reached an advanced stage. The official Kingdom of Morocco Armies X-account responded, noting that the “C-390 Millennium will therefore replace the oldest C-130 Hercules models in service with Moroccan Air Force logistics/tactic transport aviation.”
Morocco currently operates four C-27J Spartans, 16 C-130H Hercules and six CASA CN-235s in the transport role, though one Hercules operates in the SIGINT role, and two are configured as tankers.
The Czech Republic announced a CZK 11.3 billion (US $493 million) contract for two KC/C-390 aircraft on 2 October, having selected the type in October 2023 to meet its future air-to-air refuelling and fixed-wing medium-lift transport requirements.
Jana Černochová, the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic informed parliament of the impending contract some 12 months after the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Brazilian manufacturer had announced the selection decision.
The minister, said that the deal includes a US $82.3 million offset package for Czech industry. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2025, and will augment the air force’s six Airbus C295M/MW and five Let L-410 Turbolet tactical airlifters.
