Lithuania orders three Brazilian Embraer Transport Aircrafts C390 Millennium to reinforce airlift capabilities
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According to a press release published by Embraer on 18 June 2025, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has selected C‑390 Millennium as its next‑generation military transport aircraft. The country plans to acquire three units, with negotiations advancing and contract finalisation expected in the coming months. This move bolsters Lithuania’s operational readiness, enhances NATO interoperability, and integrates it into the expanding cadre of European C‑390 operators.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A digitally rendered image of the Embraer C‑390 Millennium in Lithuanian Air Force livery soaring above Vilnius, symbolizing Lithuania’s upcoming enhancement of tactical airlift capabilities.(Picture source: Embraer)
During the ongoing 2025 Paris Air Show, Embraer secured firm and option contracts with Portugal and the Netherlands. Portugal confirmed its sixth KC‑390 delivery scheduled for 2029 and added ten purchase options under a multinational framework. The Netherlands contracted one aeromedical‑capable variant and secured seven contingent options to equip allied nations. Embraer’s defence chief reported the production ramp‑up “moving perfectly,” with five aircraft planned for delivery in 2025 and ambitions to double annual output by 2030.
The Embraer C‑390 Millennium is a state-of-the-art multi-mission tactical transport aircraft developed by Brazil’s Embraer Defense & Security division. Designed to replace aging platforms such as the Lockheed C‑130 Hercules, the C‑390 features a high-wing, twin-engine configuration and is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, each delivering 31,330 pounds of thrust. This enables the aircraft to reach a cruising speed of 870 km/h and a maximum range of over 6,000 kilometers when unrefueled, with a typical cargo load. Its maximum payload capacity is 26 metric tons, allowing it to carry a wide range of military equipment, including 6×6 armored vehicles, helicopters, artillery pieces, or up to 80 fully equipped troops.
The aircraft’s advanced cargo handling system supports both palletized and bulk cargo, with a rear ramp for rapid loading and unloading. It is fully interoperable with NATO logistics standards and is capable of performing in-flight cargo drops using standard CDS and LVADS platforms. The C‑390 can also operate from semi-prepared and austere runways as short as 1,200 meters, thanks to its robust landing gear and reinforced structure. For refueling missions, the KC‑390 variant is equipped with underwing refueling pods and a probe-and-drogue system, enabling it to support both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft in flight. It can also be reconfigured within hours for aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), paratrooper insertion with simultaneous side door and ramp drops, and search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Avionics are provided by Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion suite, offering a glass cockpit with five large multifunction displays, advanced mission planning tools, night vision goggle compatibility, fly-by-wire controls, and a full suite of self-protection systems including radar warning receivers (RWR), missile approach warning systems (MAWS), and countermeasure dispensing systems. The C‑390’s integration of modern systems and digital maintenance architecture also ensures high mission availability rates and reduced lifecycle costs, making it one of the most cost-effective platforms in its class.
Embraer, Brazil’s leading aerospace manufacturer, has rapidly expanded its presence in the global defense market with the C‑390 programme. Building on a solid foundation in regional aviation and a growing international footprint, Embraer has secured multiple European contracts and is actively engaging new customers across NATO and partner nations. The company’s agility in scaling production and willingness to establish industrial partnerships, such as the potential assembly line in Poland, underscores its ambition to compete head-to-head with legacy Western manufacturers in the military airlift domain.
Lithuania’s decision to procure the C‑390 Millennium is strategically significant given its geographic proximity to Russia and Belarus. With heightened regional tensions and ongoing NATO military reinforcement along the eastern flank, a modern, fast, and versatile airlift capability enables Vilnius to rapidly deploy forces, support allied contingents, and conduct humanitarian or medevac missions across the Baltic region and beyond. This acquisition is a vital step toward increasing Lithuania’s autonomous defense logistics and emergency
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According to a press release published by Embraer on 18 June 2025, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has selected C‑390 Millennium as its next‑generation military transport aircraft. The country plans to acquire three units, with negotiations advancing and contract finalisation expected in the coming months. This move bolsters Lithuania’s operational readiness, enhances NATO interoperability, and integrates it into the expanding cadre of European C‑390 operators.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A digitally rendered image of the Embraer C‑390 Millennium in Lithuanian Air Force livery soaring above Vilnius, symbolizing Lithuania’s upcoming enhancement of tactical airlift capabilities.(Picture source: Embraer)
During the ongoing 2025 Paris Air Show, Embraer secured firm and option contracts with Portugal and the Netherlands. Portugal confirmed its sixth KC‑390 delivery scheduled for 2029 and added ten purchase options under a multinational framework. The Netherlands contracted one aeromedical‑capable variant and secured seven contingent options to equip allied nations. Embraer’s defence chief reported the production ramp‑up “moving perfectly,” with five aircraft planned for delivery in 2025 and ambitions to double annual output by 2030.
The Embraer C‑390 Millennium is a state-of-the-art multi-mission tactical transport aircraft developed by Brazil’s Embraer Defense & Security division. Designed to replace aging platforms such as the Lockheed C‑130 Hercules, the C‑390 features a high-wing, twin-engine configuration and is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, each delivering 31,330 pounds of thrust. This enables the aircraft to reach a cruising speed of 870 km/h and a maximum range of over 6,000 kilometers when unrefueled, with a typical cargo load. Its maximum payload capacity is 26 metric tons, allowing it to carry a wide range of military equipment, including 6×6 armored vehicles, helicopters, artillery pieces, or up to 80 fully equipped troops.
The aircraft’s advanced cargo handling system supports both palletized and bulk cargo, with a rear ramp for rapid loading and unloading. It is fully interoperable with NATO logistics standards and is capable of performing in-flight cargo drops using standard CDS and LVADS platforms. The C‑390 can also operate from semi-prepared and austere runways as short as 1,200 meters, thanks to its robust landing gear and reinforced structure. For refueling missions, the KC‑390 variant is equipped with underwing refueling pods and a probe-and-drogue system, enabling it to support both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft in flight. It can also be reconfigured within hours for aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), paratrooper insertion with simultaneous side door and ramp drops, and search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Avionics are provided by Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion suite, offering a glass cockpit with five large multifunction displays, advanced mission planning tools, night vision goggle compatibility, fly-by-wire controls, and a full suite of self-protection systems including radar warning receivers (RWR), missile approach warning systems (MAWS), and countermeasure dispensing systems. The C‑390’s integration of modern systems and digital maintenance architecture also ensures high mission availability rates and reduced lifecycle costs, making it one of the most cost-effective platforms in its class.
Embraer, Brazil’s leading aerospace manufacturer, has rapidly expanded its presence in the global defense market with the C‑390 programme. Building on a solid foundation in regional aviation and a growing international footprint, Embraer has secured multiple European contracts and is actively engaging new customers across NATO and partner nations. The company’s agility in scaling production and willingness to establish industrial partnerships, such as the potential assembly line in Poland, underscores its ambition to compete head-to-head with legacy Western manufacturers in the military airlift domain.
Lithuania’s decision to procure the C‑390 Millennium is strategically significant given its geographic proximity to Russia and Belarus. With heightened regional tensions and ongoing NATO military reinforcement along the eastern flank, a modern, fast, and versatile airlift capability enables Vilnius to rapidly deploy forces, support allied contingents, and conduct humanitarian or medevac missions across the Baltic region and beyond. This acquisition is a vital step toward increasing Lithuania’s autonomous defense logistics and emergency
