Embraer is building long-term cooperation with Lithuanian industry following the country’s June 2025 decision to acquire the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. In recent weeks, Embraer experts have visited Lithuania to meet local industrial partners and assess facilities, focusing on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), engineering, innovation, technological development and supply chain management.
The collaboration forms part of Lithuania’s strategic defence and economic goals to develop a resilient and future-ready defence industrial base while fostering ties with educational and research institutions. This approach supports not only military capability but also technological growth within the Lithuanian aerospace sector.
Embraer has steadily increased its European presence since the early 2000s through strategic investments, supplier network expansion and industrial facility development. More than 40% of the C-390 supply chain is sourced from European partners. The company has established notable industrial cooperation programmes with Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Sweden, while its Lisbon-based Embraer Defence Europe office demonstrates ongoing EU and NATO collaboration, including plans for C-390 training centres.
The C-390 Millennium itself is a next-generation aircraft designed for demanding operational environments, offering high speed, increased payload capacity and versatile mission capabilities. Its selection places Lithuania alongside several European and NATO allies, including Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Sweden, which are modernising their air forces with the same platform.
By adopting the C-390, Lithuania gains enhanced operational capability and long-term support entirely within Europe, ensuring lifetime sustainment for its fleet and closer integration with NATO’s evolving defence ecosystem.
