PRAGUE, Oct. 17,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Defense and
Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
announced today the start of negotiations on potential acquisition
of the new-generation multi-mission Embraer C-390 Millennium, a
military transport aircraft. The decision to start negotiating
towards possible purchase the C-390 was based on a market
assessment and analysis prepared by Czech
Republic's Ministry of Defense, which identified the C-390
as the most suitable solution for meeting the requirements of the
Army of the Czech Republic.
Czech Republic intends to
acquire two aircraft that will significantly increase its airlift
capacity, allowing the Czech Army to perform missions such as air
transport, air assault operations, aerial resupply, medical
evacuation, humanitarian aid, air-to-air refueling and firefighting
with these aircraft. Furthermore, the C-390 Millennium requires
significant less maintenance than other aircraft, which translates
into higher availability and lower life-cycle costs.
"We are honored to be selected by the Ministry of Defense and
Armed Forces to start negotiating on this significant acquisition
and we are ready to provide the most advanced medium transport
aircraft available in the market to the Czech Republic," said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO,
Embraer Defense & Security. "The C-390 Millennium is drawing
the attention of several nations around the world due to its
unbeatable combination of high productivity and operating
flexibility with low operating costs."
Negotiations have started with the objective of prospective
signing an acquisition contract for two aircraft and associated
support, which includes a complete training solution for pilots,
loadmasters, and technicians, spare parts, and a robust
entry-into-operation plan with a local presence of Embraer
personnel in country for an initial period.
Following this announcement, the Czech
Republic becomes the sixth nation and fourth NATO country in
Europe to prefer the C-390 after
Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the
Netherlands, and Austria.
The C-390 is redefining military airlift and challenging the
thinking behind current and future generation platforms, with
multi-mission capability and interoperability built by design.
Since entering operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019,
the C-390 has proven its capacity, reliability, and performance.
The current fleet of 6 aircraft has shown an operational
availability of around 80%, with a mission completion rate above
99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.
Czech Republic is an active
partner in the development and production of the C-390 Millennium,
and today´s announcement will strengthen Embraer's cooperation with
local industries. Czech company Aero Vodochody is already a
strategic partner and supplier for the program, producing parts of
the rear fuselage, the doors for paratroopers and crew, the
emergency door and hatches, the cargo ramp, and the fixed leading
edge.
The C-390 can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other
medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470
knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of
missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops,
medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and
humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways
such as packed earth, soil, and gravel. The aircraft configured
with air-to-air refueling equipment, with the designation KC-390,
has already proven its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker
and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another
KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
Images:
https://embraer.bynder.com/share/2663F347-842C-405B-823AC399F803497D/
About Embraer
Embraer (B3: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ) is a
global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil. It manufactures aircraft for
Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security, and
Agricultural customers. The company also provides after-sales
services & support through a worldwide network of wholly owned
entities and authorized agents.
Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than
8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft
manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world,
transporting over 145 million passengers a year.
Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150
seats and is the main exporter of high value-added goods in
Brazil. The company maintains
industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers
across the Americas, Africa,
Asia, and Europe.
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SOURCE Embraer S.A.