The Swedish government made the decision back in November to acquire the Embraer C-390.
Back on April 13, 2025, I published an article with The National Interest about how Sweden is increasingly playing an active role in NATO, which the country officially joined on March 7, 2024. Now, Sweden is further demonstrating its seriousness by bolstering its military air transport fleet. Military cargo aircraft may not get the glory that fighter planes do, but their role as the unsung heroes of modern air forces cannot be overstated—they keep the supply lines going and make it possible for the trigger-pullers to do their jobs in the first place.
Why Sweden Wants the Embraer C-390
The latest news comes to us from Craig Hoyle in an article forFlightGlobal:
“Sweden has signed a formal agreement to advance its acquisition of Embraer C-390 tactical transports in partnership with European buyers Austria and the Netherlands … On 22 April, Stockholm’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed up to a cooperation agreement already established by the existing customer nations, who it says have ‘agreed to integrate Sweden into the existing memorandum of understanding [MoU] … The procurement will take place with the Netherlands as [lead] agent and representative for the other nations,’ the FMV says … ‘By conducting the procurement together, the order will be less costly and the planes can be delivered faster,’ the agency says.”
The Swedish government made the decision back in November to acquire the C-390. Accordingly, the Swedes will purchase four of the airframes whilst the Austrians and the Dutch will buy four and five of the birds, respectively. All three countries are currently using the venerable U.S.-made Lockheed Martin C-130H/K Hercules for airlift duties.
Embraer C-390 Millennium Initial History and Specifications
Built by the Brazilian multinational aerospace conglomerate Embraer S.A., headquartered in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, the C-390 Millennium made its maiden flight on February 3, 2015, and officially entered operational service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019. The Millennium is the heaviest aircraft that Embraer has constructed to date.
The manufacturer’s official product brochure proudly proclaims the Millennium to be:
“The new generation military multi-mission transport aircraft with unrivaled mobility and operational flexibility in a single platform. This provides air forces with optimal fleet performance generated by a cost-effective combination of high availability and productivity.”
The Embraer C-390 warbird has the following vital stats and tech specs:
- Crew: Three (two pilots, one loadmaster)
- Carrying Capacity: 26,000 kgs. (57,000 lbs.); eighty troops; seventy-four stretchers and eight attendants; sixty-six paratroopers; seven 463L master pallets; six 463L master pallets; and thirty-six troops
- Fuselage Length: 35.2 m (115 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan:35.05 m (115 ft)
- Height: 11.84 m (38 ft 10 in)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 86,999 kgs. (191,800 lbs.)
- Powerplant: Two IAE (International Aero Engines) V2500-E5 turbofans, with 31,330 lbs. of takeoff thrust
- “Maximum Cruise Speed” (official company terminology): 470 knots (Mach 0.8)
- Service Ceiling: 36,000 feet
- Ferry Range: 3,370 nautical miles)
- Combat Range (at max payload): 1,080 nautical miles
Reportedly, thirteen C-390 airframes have been built as of 2023. Additional current customers include the Portuguese Air Force (perhaps not surprising when you keep in mind that Portuguese is the lingua franca of Brazil) and the Hungarian Air Force. Meanwhile, the South African Air Force has also expressed a serious interest in acquiring the Millennium.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr
Christian D. Orr was previously a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ) and 19FortyFive. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch, The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS). If you’d like to pick his brain further, you can ofttimes find him at the Old Virginia Tobacco Company (OVTC) lounge in Manassas, Virginia, partaking of fine stogies and good quality human camaraderie.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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