Austria selects Embraer aircraft for military tactical transport

Photo: Embraer

Embraer informed markets on Wednesday that the Austrian Defense Ministry selected its C-390 Millennium military cargo plane as its new tactical transport aircraft.

Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner confirmed the purchase of four C-390 Millennium planes. Each plane will cost between EUR 130 and 150 million, reports AirWay, a website specializing in aviation-related news. Austria is also negotiating with the Netherlands on a potential joint order, Ms. Tanner told reporters.

“Austria joins Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, and the Netherlands as future operators of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission platform, an aircraft that is rapidly redefining the standards of tactical transport in the world defense market,” Embraer said in a statement.

The Czech Republic, South Korea, India, and Sweden are also tapped as potential buyers of the aircraft.

The C-390 Millennium was developed in partnership between Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force. It is considered a state-of-the-art aircraft, set to “revolutionize military air transportation,” according to Charles Atkeison of Avgeekery Magazine. The plane can transport up to 80 troops, three tanks, or one Black Hawk H-60 helicopter.

Sales of this model have gone a long way to help Embraer recover from a recent financial crisis that pushed the company to the cusp of collapse.

Earlier this year, the Brazilian plane maker announced the launch of an A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in NATO configuration, “with an initial focus on meeting the needs of nations in Europe.”

The A-29 Super Tucano announcement came shortly after the Brazilian company signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration with Swedish manufacturer Saab.

But although Embraer is eyeing the European market with the updated Super Tucano, the Brazilian government is publicly opposed to sending weapons to Ukraine.