Sweden Signs $850 Million Deal with Embraer for Four C-390 Millennium Military Transport Aircraft
Sweden’s government formally signed a deal with Brazil’s Embraer for four C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft on October 6. The ceremony at Uppsala Air Base marked the finalization of an agreement first announced last year in which Sweden joined a joint procurement program led by the Netherlands and Austria. The contract is worth roughly 8 billion Swedish kronor (about $850 million) and also includes seven additional purchase options. First deliveries under the contract are planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a new-generation military transport aircraft developed by Brazil’s Embraer defense division. The C-390 is a jet-powered medium transporter capable of carrying up to 26 tonnes of payload at high speed (about 470 knots). Its design enables it to perform various missions like hauling cargo or vehicles, transporting troops or paratroops and conducting search-and-rescue operations. An air-to-air refueling version (designated KC-390) adds tanker capability. A key feature of the C-390 is its ability to operate from short or unprepared runways and making it suitable for austere or combat environments. The C-390 has demonstrated high availability and performance with a mission–capable rate of approximately 93% and completion rates exceeding 99%. “Productivity and reliability” of the aircraft have been cited by other operators as key factors in choosing the C-390.
Sweden chose the C-390 to replace its aging Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transports. The Swedish Air Force has flown C-130Hs (designated Tp 84) for over 50 years, and modernizing them would have kept many planes grounded for months at a time. Instead, Stockholm evaluated new alternatives – notably the jet-powered C-390 and the C-130J – and opted for the C-390 based on its superior payload, speed and modern design. In a joint procurement, Sweden expects to shorten delivery times and share training and logistics with the Netherlands and Austria, which together ordered nine C-390s in 2024. Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized that the C-390’s large capacity would strengthen Sweden’s national and international readiness, providing taxpayers with “more defense for their money” through European cooperation. The new aircraft will supplement Sweden’s remaining C-130Hs, providing a long-awaited capability upgrade without necessitating the immediate grounding of the old fleet.
Several other countries have already acquired or ordered the C-390 Millennium. In addition to Brazil, which helped develop the design, operators include Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands and Austria, with the Czech Republic confirmed as a new customer. Lithuania and Slovakia have also selected the C-390. Sweden’s entry makes it another NATO member in this European transport group. Strategically, the Embraer-Sweden deal not only modernizes Stockholm’s airlift fleet but also deepens ties with Brazil (a Gripen co-developer) and enhances interoperability with Allies using the same platform. For Sweden’s Air Force, the C-390 Millennium adds a high-performance military transport to support national defense and coalition operations for decades to come.