Gavião Peixoto, Brazil— The production of the first C-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force has officially begun at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in Brazil, marking a new phase in the joint European “Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity” program.
Representatives from the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) and the Materiel & IT Command (Commando Materieel en IT) attended the ceremony, signing a section of the aircraft to commemorate the milestone. The Netherlands is acquiring five C-390 Millennium aircraft under this initiative, part of a broader joint procurement program with Austria and Sweden that now totals 13 aircraft with seven additional options available to partner nations.
The start of production follows the formal contract signing at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, where the Dutch Ministry of Defense concluded an agreement for nine C-390s — five for the Netherlands and four for Austria — in collaboration with Embraer. The procurement aims to replace both nations’ aging tactical airlift fleets, improving their capacity to deploy or evacuate personnel and equipment worldwide, even in demanding operational environments.
Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, National Armaments Director of the Netherlands, hailed the project as “a strong example of European collaboration,” noting that both countries will operate aircraft built to identical specifications. “The constructive support of Embraer has played a crucial role in the successful realization of this agreement,” he said.
Embraer Defense & Security President and CEO Bosco da Costa Jr welcomed the new customers, describing the C-390 as “the most efficient and modern military tactical transport currently in operation,” combining “high performance, advanced technology, and low life-cycle costs.”
Capable of carrying a 26-ton payload, the C-390 outperforms other medium-sized tactical transports, flying at 470 knots and operating on unpaved or temporary runways. Its modular configuration allows it to execute diverse missions such as troop and cargo transport, airdrops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian operations. The tanker variant, designated KC-390, can perform both aerial refueling and receiver roles via underwing refueling pods.
Technically, the C-390 measures 33.43 meters in length, with a 33.94-meter wingspan and 11.43-meter height. It is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, crewed by two pilots, and can transport up to 80 fully equipped troops, 74 stretchers, or two armored vehicles such as M113s or a Boxer APC. The aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight is 81 tons, with an estimated unit cost of $85 million as of 2024.
Embraer emphasized that the C-390 program strengthens NATO interoperability and creates long-term synergies in training, logistics, and future platform growth among member nations. “These versatile, multi-mission platforms will enhance flexibility and responsiveness across humanitarian, medical, and strategic airlift operations — reinforcing NATO’s collective capabilities,” the company said.
