By joining an already existing contract managed by the Netherlands as the procurement agent, Sweden will gain access to the aircraft earlier than with an individual order.
According to Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M), this means both cost-effectiveness and increased operational capability: – New tactical transport planes enhance Swedish defense capability. Through this joint order, Sweden now receives reduced prices and faster delivery than if we had ordered alone, he says in the press release.
The aircraft will be produced at Embraer's facility in Brazil, outside São Paulo. Final delivery dates have not yet been established as negotiations are still ongoing between the Netherlands and Embraer.
The C-390 Millennium has previously been ordered by several NATO countries, including Portugal, Hungary, and the Netherlands, and is set to replace their countries' fleets of older transport aircraft such as the Hercules C-130.
– Sweden's commitment to acquire four C-390 Millennium aircraft marks a significant advancement in enhancing the Swedish Air Force's operational capacity. These next-generation aircraft will not only increase Sweden's military transport efficiency but also benefit from existing European synergies in interoperability, training, and lifecycle support, says Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defence & Security, in a press release from the company.
The decision to acquire the C-390 follows an intensified collaboration between Sweden and Brazil in the aviation industry. Saab and Embraer have collaborated for several years on the JAS 39 Gripen and signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 to support each other's export efforts, which FSN previously reported on.
In May 2023, President Lula da Silva and Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), the Minister for Civil Defense, inaugurated a joint production facility in Brazil for the Gripen E, further deepening the ties between the countries.