Sweden has announced that it will make a decision regarding the acquisition of new aircraft to replace its aging Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical airlifters by the end of this year, as stated by Bosco da Costa, President and CEO of Embraer Defense.
The Brazilian company is promoting the C-390 Millennium, which has recently seen significant success in Europe, with orders from Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The Czech Republic has also expressed interest in the aircraft, but a firm contract has yet to be established.
Last year, Sweden opted to reevaluate its options for replacing six Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules aircraft after an attempt to procure used C-130J Super Hercules units did not meet the necessary requirements. Da Costa mentioned that Embraer has provided extensive information about the C-390 to Sweden as the procurement process moves toward the selection phase, highlighting a robust strategic defense relationship between Sweden and Brazil. This relationship has been bolstered by Brazil’s order of 36 Saab Gripen E/F multirole fighter jets and collaboration with the Swedish defense sector.
“We are actively competing… We have received indications from the Swedish government that a decision should be expected by the year’s end,” he informed reporters today.
His remarks came after Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, the commander of the Swedish Air Force, told the media on Sunday that the evaluation for the C-130 replacement has been completed, and their recommendations have been submitted to the government.
“We have been working for some time to upgrade our C-130 fleet, having explored various options over the last ten years… One possibility is the C-390, while we could also consider another C-130,” he noted.
Wikman emphasized that the final decision rests with political leaders, adding that he would prefer not to comment further on the matter.
In other news, Embraer recently formalized a contract for the procurement of C-390 aircraft with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, which includes a total of nine aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Austrian Air Force.
As previously reported by Breaking Defense, the first delivery to the Netherlands is anticipated in 2027, delayed by a year due to challenges in collaboration with Vienna and extended negotiations with Embraer.
In light of this new contract, Embraer stated that the C-390 order will enhance the operational capabilities of both nations, allowing them to deploy or evacuate personnel and equipment worldwide, including under challenging conditions.
Furthermore, Embraer highlighted that Vienna and The Hague will benefit from synergies, including training, logistics, and future platform development.
Da Costa also noted that Embraer and the Czech Republic are in the final phases of negotiations regarding the procurement of two aircraft.
