Around nine months ago, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner announced Austria’s decision to purchase the C-390M from Embraer as the successor to its aging C-130 Hercules fleetand the procurement of the airlifter has just been officially confirmed. On the fringes of the Farnborough Airshow in the UK, representatives of the Netherlands and the manufacturer Embraer signed the purchase agreement for a total of nine aircraft – five for the Netherlands and four more to be delivered to the armed forces via the Netherlands.
Signing of the contract for the C-390M for the Austrian Armed Forces
Militär Aktuell was on site in England for the signing of the contract, while Michael Ott, head of the procurement department at the Austrian Ministry of Defense (BMLV), had already signed the contract (the so-called “mandate”) a few days ago. In addition to the aircraft, the overall package also includes logistical services, mission equipment and the necessary training for pilots and technicians as well as the required infrastructure and spare parts. The planned budget is around one billion euros.
The Austrian Armed Forces were represented in Farnborough by Armaments Director Major General Harald Vodosek, Head of the Air Division Brigadier Jörg Freistätter and Deputy Head of the Air Division Michael Freigaßner. Bosco da Costa Junior (President and CEO), Fredrico Lemos (Chief Commercial Officer) and Jose Gustavo, the regional manager responsible for the Austrian contract, were present from the manufacturer Embraer.
“With this procurement, our air force will not only be at the cutting edge of technology in the future, but will also be able to fully fulfill its mission for military and humanitarian operations again,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner in an initial reaction.
“Today is a happy day for the Austrian Armed Forces and its air force. Today’s signing of the contract and thus the now fixed purchase of the four new transport aircraft is a milestone for the Austrian Ministry of Defense.
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Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
Minister Tanner continued: “I am pleased that the first two aircraft will land in Austria from 2028 (note: the delivery of the four aircraft should be completed by 2030). We have found a reliable partner in the Netherlands. In addition to the more cost-effective procurement of the new transport aircraft, we also have the advantage that we will be able to train our pilots and technicians together in future and work together in the area of maintenance. I am delighted that we will be able to make such a big leap forward in the subsequent procurement of our transport aircraft.”
According to Militär Aktuell, the first aircraft for the Netherlands will arrive in a preliminary configuration as early as 2026 and will then be supplemented by the so-called NATO-equipment (IFF, military GPS and everything that falls under the term crypto). However, this will not happen as with the aircraft for Portugal and Hungary (-> first C-390M landed in Hungary) in the customer country, but at Fokker in the Netherlands. This will be followed by two more Dutch aircraft and then the first two Austrian aircraft, which – as Austria is linked to NATO as part of the Partnership for Peace – will also be upgraded to NATO standard at Fokker.
Will the C-390M land with the armed forces sooner?
However, it is also possible that the first C-390M could be in service with the Austrian Armed Forces before 2027. In any case, the head of the Armaments Directorate wrote to Embraer at the beginning of July requesting an interim loan of a C-390M factory aircraft. This is intended to cushion the foreseeable decrease in availability and the declining clear status of the army’s three C-130Ks, which are more than 50 years old. According to reports, there will be a positive response from the manufacturer. Details will follow, but Embraer seems to see such an agreement as a win-win situation. The Austrian Armed Forces could “grow into” the system at an earlier stage and Embraer would receive an aircraft for advertising purposes in Europe. In any case, the Brazilians do not seem to be lacking in interested parties for their air transporter (-> good prospects for Embraer’s C-390M), with an aircraft in service with the Austrian Armed Forces it would also be easier to carry out demonstrations. https://militaeraktuell.at/katzen-jaegerkompanie-bundesheer-hochfilzen/ The new aircraft system will in any case be stationed in Hörsching and will be available as an air transport system for the Austrian Air Force for at least 30 years. The possible uses of the Embraer C-390M include air transport (personnel, material), patient transport, evacuations, landing on unpaved runways or even the airdrop of parachutists.
The transport aircraft can be used to transport loads of up to 26,000 kilograms or vehicle transports up to the size of a Pandur Evolution with a weapon station, 80 passengers, 60 parachutists and also medical evacuation missions (MEDEVAC).
In addition to the Netherlands and Austria, the C-390M is also operated by Portugal and Brazil and procured by Hungary. In addition, the Czech Republic Czech Republic and South Korea have also recently opted for the air transportation system – and and according to the manufacturer Embraer, further purchases could follow soon.
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