Now it’s official: After the Czech Republic Czech Republic (two machines) and in a Austria and the Netherlands in a joint procurement (a total of nine aircraft, four of which are for the Austrian Armed Forces), rumors of Swedish interest in the C-390M transport aircraft have now been confirmed. Stockholm wants to use the model from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to replace its ageing Hercules fleet.
During a meeting of defense ministers in Brazil on the sidelines of the multinational air force exercise “Cruzex 2024” (where the Brazilian Gripen E took part in a major exercise for the first time), Ministers Pål Jonson and José Múcio Monteiro signed a declaration of intent on increased cooperation between Brazil and Sweden in the field of aviation. This also includes a declaration of intent to procure the C-390M as a new military transport aircraft for the Swedish armed forces.
The deal is also expected to include an increase in the Brazilian Gripen E order by a further nine or ten aircraft. The government in Brasilia has so far ordered 36 Gripen E/F (28 single-seater Gripen E and eight two-seater Gripen F, known as F-39E in Brazil).
Like Austria, Sweden also wants to procure four new C-390Ms, although the configuration has not yet been communicated. The Swedish Air Force currently operates six C-130 Hercules, including one aircraft in the KC-130 tanker version.
“We can now take a long-awaited step and start replacing our current transport aircraft with the C-390M,” says the Chief of the Swedish Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Carl-Johan Edström. “Now we can start working to ensure the operational need for a long-term tactical transport air capability.”
Edström continues: “The Swedish Armed Forces’ current military transport aircraft, TP 84 Hercules (note: proper name of the C-130), is more than 50 years old and has increasing accessibility problems, and the process of replacing the system has been going on for a long time. The signed memorandum of understanding is therefore welcome news, as it was important to find a replacement.”
The Air Chief of the Swedish Air Force (Flygavapnet), Major General Jonas Wikman, also expressed his satisfaction with the decision: “It is very pleasing that we are now approaching a long-term solution. The C-390M is in any case a highly qualified platform with great development potential. We are now fully focused on implementing this absolutely central capability as quickly as possible.”
The manufacturer Embraer is also delighted: “We are honored by Sweden’s choice,” says Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of the company. “As with the decision of other European NATOcountries for the C-390M, this decision is again proof that our multi-role aircraft represents a huge improvement in operational capabilities compared to previous generation tactical transport aircraft. The aircraft is gradually being recognized by the world’s most advanced air forces, such as the Swedish Air Force. This choice encourages us to offer our customers the aircraft they need for their most demanding missions with unparalleled versatility, reliability and performance.”
The new NATO member Sweden is now the eighth user of the type after manufacturer Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. In addition, Embraer is currently running promising campaigns in India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Morocco.
Here for more news about Embraer.
