The Netherlands and Austria order nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft
The Netherlands and Austria have placed a joint order for nine multi-mission airlift Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft, building on synergy between the nations’ highly similar requirements, with the first unit to be delivered in 2027.
The joint purchase – part of the ‘replacement of tactical airlift capacity project ‘ – will see five units delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and a further four for the Austrian Air Force. The type has been operation with the Brazilian and Portuguese Air Force since 2019 and 2023 respectively.
The new order marks a “significant milestone in bilateral co-operation,” explained national armament director of Austria Vice-Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, highlighting that “in the search for possible partners in a European military environment,” the “almost identical requirements” of the partnering nations formed an ideal foundation for co-operation.
Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, national armaments director of the Netherlands, added that the union is “a good example of collaboration in Europe between countries,” thanking Embraer for playing “a crucial role in the successful realisation of this agreement”.
The joint purchase will also enable both nations (alongside current and future operators) to “co-operate and benefit form synergies in areas like training, logistics and future growth of the platform, together with the other C-390 operators in NATO nations,” added Embraer, with Bosco da Costa, president and CEO, Embraer Defense and Security, concluding: “This is just the beginning of our journey”.
