Embraer has officially started production of the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft at its facility in Gavião Peixoto, north of São Paulo. The milestone was marked during a ceremony attended by Dutch defense officials and representatives from the nation’s defense materiel organization, who signed the aircraft’s fuselage to commemorate the launch. The project also involves Dutch industry, with aerospace firms in Woensdrecht taking responsibility for a portion of the final outfitting once the airframe arrives in Europe.
The Netherlands has ordered five C-390 aircraft to replace its aging fleet of C-130 Hercules, which has been in service since the 1950s. Deliveries are planned between 2027 and 2029, with each aircraft requiring about two years from assembly through full systems integration. Embraer expects the transition to significantly boost Dutch airlift capacity, offering enhanced payload, speed, and mission flexibility compared to the legacy Hercules fleet.
The program forms part of a larger trilateral procurement initiative involving the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden. Under this cooperative framework, the three nations will acquire 13 C-390 aircraft, with eight going to Austria and Sweden, and an option for up to seven more units shared among participating countries. The unified configuration approach is designed to streamline training, logistics, and sustainment while enabling joint operations and cross-assignment of personnel across the three air forces. Sweden formally joined the agreement in October 2024, following an initial accord signed by Austria and the Netherlands at the Farnborough International Airshow earlier that year.
The C-390 Millennium, known for its high reliability and multi-mission capability, measures 35 meters (115 feet) and can carry up to 26,000 kilograms (57,320 pounds) of cargo or 80 troops. It is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 engines and can be equipped with self-protection suites and electronic warfare systems for operations in contested environments. With a range of 4,570 nautical miles (8,464 kilometers), speeds exceeding 500 knots, and a maximum altitude of 11,000 meters, the C-390 offers superior performance for tactical airlift, humanitarian missions, and global military logistics.
