Sweden has signed a deal to acquire four C-390 Millennium multi-role transport aircraft from Brazilian aerospace company Embraer.
The move places Stockholm within a NATO-oriented partnership alongside Austria and the Netherlands, which jointly procured nine C-390s in 2024. The collaboration aims to enhance interoperability, streamline procurement, and foster long-term operational cooperation around the C-390 platform.
As part of the agreement, Sweden will benefit from comprehensive training and lifecycle support packages. The deal also includes seven optional purchase slots for other European partners considering future acquisitions.
The C-390 has been in operational service with Brazil since 2019, joined by Portugal in 2023 and Hungary in 2024. Embraer reports a 93% mission readiness rate and over 99% mission completion reliability among current operators.
Capable of carrying 26 tons of payload and flying at speeds up to 470 knots (870 km/h or 540 mph), the aircraft is designed for multiple roles — including troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, airdrops, firefighting, humanitarian aid, and search-and-rescue operations.
The C-390’s rugged design allows takeoff and landing from unpaved or semi-prepared runways such as compacted soil, gravel, or dirt strips. In its KC-390 tanker variant, it can conduct air-to-air refueling, both as a supplier or receiver via underwing pods.
