Construction of the First C-390 Military Transport Aircraft for the Netherlands Has Started

The Brazilian company Embraer has launched the construction of the first C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft for the Netherlands Air Force.

The Netherlands Logistics Command announced this.

The official ceremony marking the start of aircraft production took place this week as part of a joint project.

In total, the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden are purchasing 13 new C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The Netherlands will receive five aircraft.

The Command for Logistics and IT (COMMIT) is responsible for the procurement for all three countries and for the introduction of this type of aircraft into the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Construction of the first C-390’s airframe will take approximately 8 months. After that, all the necessary systems will be installed on the aircraft. Overall, the aircraft’s production will take about 2 years.

The contract for the supply of aircraft to the Netherlands and Austria was signed on July 22, 2024, at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.

Cooperation between the countries will result in significant savings in both aircraft purchases and future maintenance. The joint procurement also allows both countries to share experience and details. In addition to the aircraft, the agreement provides for training, spare parts, and support equipment.

In the Netherlands, the C-390 will replace four outdated C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The country also intends to purchase a simulator of the Brazilian military transport aircraft.