First aircraft from the Brazil–Netherlands–Austria–Sweden agreement enters production at Embraer
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has started construction of the first C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft destined for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) on Monday (10).
The milestone marks a new phase in an international cooperation project involving the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden, which together have ordered 13 aircraft of the model.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the Netherlands will act as the “lead nation” for the program, meaning that the main contract and all technical and logistical conditions were established by the country, benefiting the other participants.
Advantages of the multinational partnership
The cooperation among the three nations offers both economic and operational benefits. Joint production will reduce operational costs, standardize aircraft configurations, and simplify personnel exchanges and joint training.
Manufacturing of the first unit will take approximately two years. Assembly of the main structure (airframe) will last around eight months, followed by the installation of systems such as the Flight Management System (FMS) and the aircraft’s self-protection mechanisms.
Involvement of the Dutch aerospace industry
Companies from the Dutch aerospace sector will also participate in the process, carrying out final assembly and system integration in Woensdrecht, a city that hosts part of the RNLAF’s maintenance infrastructure.
The C-390 will replace the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules currently in service. The first C-390 is expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, with the last unit arriving in 2029.
The C-390 Millennium
Developed by Embraer, the C-390 Millennium is a multi-mission tactical transport aircraft capable of performing troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, firefighting, and aerial refueling operations.
The model has already been acquired by countries such as Brazil, Hungary, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands, establishing itself as one of the leading next-generation military aircraft.
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Sources: Netherlands Ministry of Defence | Embraer | RNLAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
