The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract to acquire two Embraer C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft to modernise and strengthen the Czech Air Force. These NATO-standard aircraft will enhance the force’s operational capabilities, supporting missions ranging from tactical transport of troops, vehicles, and equipment to medical evacuations, firefighting, disaster response, humanitarian aid, and air-to-air refuelling.
This acquisition is expected to benefit the local aerospace sector significantly, with an increase in the share of production for Czech industry. Defence Minister Jana Černochová noted the importance of air mobility for longer-distance operations, emphasising recent evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan as proof of the need for such capabilities.
Bosco Da Costa Junior, Embraer’s President & CEO of Defence & Security, described the order as a meaningful endorsement from a NATO ally. The C-390 will provide a comprehensive training and support package for seamless integration into the Czech Air Force.
With a 26-tonne payload capacity, a top speed of 470 knots, and robust features like a rear ramp and landing gear for operations on unpaved runways, the C-390 is designed to meet the demands of challenging missions and terrains.
