The Kingdom of Sweden has officially signed a contract with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for the acquisition of four C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, Embraer announced on October 6, 2025. The contract also includes seven additional purchase options, paving the way for potential future acquisitions by other European nations.
This procurement is part of a broader trilateral partnership between Sweden, Austria, and the Netherlands, focused on joint acquisition, interoperability, and the long-term development of tactical airlift capabilities in Europe. The agreement builds on earlier orders from the Netherlands and Austria, which jointly purchased nine C-390 Millennium aircraft in 2024. With this move, Sweden joins that strategic partnership within NATO.
The contract signing ceremony took place at Uppsala Air Base in the presence of Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson and the Commander of the Swedish Air Force, Major General Jonas Wikman. Representatives of other countries already operating the C-390—including the Netherlands, Brazil, Austria, Portugal, Hungary, and the Czech Republic—also attended the event.
“This acquisition marks an important step in the modernization and strengthening of the Swedish Air Force. I am confident that the C-390 Millennium will enhance our operational efficiency and interoperability with our European partners,” said Defence Minister Pål Jonson.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, stated that Sweden’s entry into the C-390 Millennium family further reinforces the aircraft’s reputation as the new standard for tactical airlift in Europe. “The C-390 Millennium brings together the best technologies of the aerospace industry to deliver a reliable and versatile system capable of performing the most demanding missions—anytime, anywhere,” said Costa Junior.
Dutch Minister for Defence Procurement Gijs Tuinman emphasized that experience has shown the C-390 to be a strategically valuable asset in strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities, while Austrian General Harald Vodosek added that the joint partnership would set “new benchmarks of efficiency and interoperability for future generations of missions.”
The C-390 Millennium has been in service with the Brazilian Air Force since 2019, with the Portuguese Air Force since 2023, and with the Hungarian Air Force since 2024. The aircraft has proven highly reliable, achieving an operational availability rate of 93% and a mission completion rate exceeding 99%.
Compared to other medium transport aircraft, the C-390 can carry up to 26 tons of payload, reach speeds of 470 knots, and has a longer range. It is designed for a wide range of missions—including troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian operations—and can operate from temporary or unpaved runways, including dirt and gravel airstrips.
In its KC-390 configuration, the aircraft is also capable of air-to-air refueling, both as a tanker and as a receiver, with refueling pods mounted under the wings, allowing it to refuel another KC-390 in flight.
Embraer emphasizes that this agreement further strengthens European cooperation in the defense industry and confirms the growing role of the C-390 Millennium platform as a key element of NATO allies’ future interoperability.
