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NATAL, Brazil—Sweden joined the growing list of European nations to select Embraer’s C-390 Millennium on Nov. 9, announcing a commitment to acquire the Brazilian-made, tactical airlifter.
The turbofan-powered C-390 emerged the favorite after an evaluation of other types including the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules.
Selection of the C-390 forms part of a declaration of intent to further expand the aviation partnership beyond the ongoing joint development of the Gripen E/F fighter.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson signed the new agreement alongside his Brazilian counterpart José Múcio during the VIP Day of the Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (Cruzex), in which both C-390s and Gripens of the Brazilian Air Force are participating.
As well as selecting the C-390, Jonson also declared Brazil’s well-publicized interest in further growing its Gripen fleet beyond the 36 currently on order.
“Cooperation in the field of aviation is important for both Sweden and Brazil,” Jonson said. “The new letter of intent allows us to further deepen the collaboration."
No mention of the number of C-390s that Sweden could order has yet been made. According to Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery database, Sweden is currently flying six of its C-130Hs, including one converted to a tanker. It is likely that Sweden will replace its C-130Hs on a one-for-one basis, particularly given the increased demands that will be placed on the fleet with Sweden’s accession to NATO.
For Embraer, Sweden’s selection adds another feather in the cap for the C-390, having already secured three formal orders for the airlifter just this year, from Austria, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
As part of the arrangement, Swedish authorities have agreed to begin contract negotiations in the coming days.
“The C-390 is a real multi-mission platform. It's proven in operation environments and delivering high value, and I think that’s what caught their attention,” Bosco da Costa Jr., president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, told Aviation Week following the signing here. Da Costa said that Swedish officials had been in contact with counterparts in Portugal and the Netherlands regarding their planned introduction of the platform and that work was underway with Saab, Embraer’s local partner on C-390, to “add value to Northern Europe” on training and MRO.
“Europe has opened the doors to the C-390 … and we are engaged in high-level talks with customers,” da Costa said. He would not be drawn on whether additional customers for the aircraft would be signed this year.
Replacement of Sweden’s long-serving C-130 has been a long-running saga, but given the age of the fleet, it became an urgent priority for commanders with the most recent defense bill calling for platforms to be replaced between 2025-30. Stockholm has previously considered purchasing ex-Italian Air Force C-130Js, but this was later abandoned, and in February, Lockheed Martin announced it had partnered with Swedish firm MilDef to offer the C-130J into the country.
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