Story ID: 400
Netherlands and Austria Take Nine Embraer C-390s
By: Peter Shaw-Smith
Caption: Joint order signed at Farnborough on Monday 
Word Count: 263
The Dutch Ministry of Defense signed a contract for nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft on Monday at the Farnborough Airshow. As part of their "Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity" project, the contract calls for a joint purchase in cooperation with Austria under which five aircraft go to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and four to the Austrian Air Force.
Embraer said the C-390's enhanced tactical airlift capacity would increase operational flexibility, provide logistical support in various missions, and enable a range of humanitarian and medical operations.
Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the aircraft has proven its reliability and performance, Embraer said. A total of seven air forces including those of Hungary, South Korea, and the Czech Republic have selected the C-390.
Vice Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, National Armaments Director of the Netherlands, applauded the signature of the agreement on behalf of both nations. "This is a good example of collaboration in Europe between countries," he said. "The constructive support of Embraer has played a crucial role in the successful realization of this agreement." 
The C-390 carries a payload of 26 tonnes and flies at a top speed of 470 knots. Its primary missions include dropping cargo and troops, medevac, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian flights.  
Bosco da Costa Jr, president of Embraer Defence and Security, called the aircraft "the best choice on the market, offering an unbeatable combination of high performance, advanced technology, and low life-cycle costs."