On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the Brazilian company Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica) announced that the Brazilian Ministry of Defense had signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Slovak Ministry of Defense. This agreement paves the way for a contract to be signed in January 2025 for the delivery of three medium jet-powered transport aircraft, the C-390 Millennium.
Photos and images: Embraer
The signed document paves the way for deeper industrial cooperation between the two countries. During his visit to Brazil, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák stated that the Embraer C-390 is an option better suited to Slovakia’s future transport needs. He also highlighted the importance of this platform being selected by neighboring countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria – editor’s note), enabling synergies in training, logistics, and collaboration on future capabilities and fleet development. The Slovak Ministry of Defense will begin formal steps toward purchasing three C-390 aircraft in January 2025.
“The C-390 is currently the best aircraft in its category due to its cost efficiency, versatility and reliability, being able to perform the most demanding missions anytime, anywhere. We are confident that the C-390 is the most suitable aircraft to meet the needs of the Slovak Air Force,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
So far, in addition to Slovakia, the C-390 Millennium has been ordered by Brazil (6 out of 19 ordered aircraft delivered; reduced from the initially planned 27), Portugal (2 out of 5 delivered), jointly by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Austria (5 and 4 aircraft ordered, respectively), the Czech Republic (2 aircraft), Hungary (1 out of 2 delivered), and South Korea (an undisclosed number ordered; potentially up to 12). Sweden is expected to join them soon. The aircraft is currently being promoted in the Saudi and broader Asian markets and is being offered under India’s MTA (Medium Transport Aircraft) program, which aims to procure between 40 and 80 aircraft.
The C-390 Millennium measures 33.5 meters in length, 33.9 meters in wingspan, and 11.4 meters in height. Its maximum takeoff weight is 87 tons, with a payload capacity of 26 tons. The cargo bay dimensions are 18.5 x 3.0 x 3.4 meters. With a 23-ton payload, it has a range of 2,815 kilometers. Powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, each producing 139.4 kN of thrust, the aircraft achieves a cruising speed of 870 km/h and a ceiling of 11,000 meters.
The current fleet of delivered C-390 Millennium aircraft has accumulated over 15,000 flight hours, with a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates exceeding 99%, underscoring its exceptional reliability in its class.
On November 26 of this year, the Slovak Republic’s Council of Ministers approved Resolution No. 717/2024 from the Ministry of Defense, dated November 20, concerning the transformation of the transport aviation of the Air Force (Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej Republiky).
The resolution outlines the procurement of up to six new transport aircraft, including three medium transport aircraft with an option for a fourth and two light aircraft with a capacity of up to 15 passengers. These new aircraft will fully replace two Italian-made Leonardo Alenia C-27J Spartan light transport aircraft and seven Czech-made L-410UVP-E Turbolet light passenger and transport aircraft (one of which is used for reconnaissance missions).
#NEWS | Slovakia indicates the Embraer C-390 #Millennium as the best option for its future military transport aircraft. Read full news: https://t.co/WJRr2TMIqd #EmbraerStories #C390 pic.twitter.com/c3nI0BS8k7
— Embraer (@embraer) December 10, 2024