Seen in Brazilian service, the KC/C-390 Millennium will shortly enter Czech service with a contract for two aircraft announced on 2 October. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The Czech Republic is to sign for two Embraer KC/C-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft, the country's defence minister announced on 2 October.
Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Jana Černochová informed parliament of the impending contract 12 months after theCzech Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Brazilian manufacturer announced the selection decision in October 2023.
According to the minister, the deal is to be valued at CZK11.3 billion (USD493 million) minus tax and includes a USD82.3 million offset package for Czech industry. The first aircraft will be delivered to the MoD in 2025, she added.
In Czech service, the KC/C-390 will be used for missions such as air transport, air assault operations, aerial resupply, medical evacuation, humanitarian aid, air-to-air refuelling, and firefighting. The two new aircraft will add to the six Airbus C295M/MW and five Let L-410 Turbolet tactical airlifters owned and operated by the Army of the Czech Republic, as well as the NATO Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS)- and European Union (EU)/NATO Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF)-leased transport programmes.
It joins European neighbours Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Portugal in selecting the KC-390, while Embraer is also eyeing regional opportunities in Sweden as well as with the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) of the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) based in Hungary. Beyond Europe, Brazil is the launch customer for the airlifter, with a contract signed with South Korea and letters of intent signed by Argentina, Chile, and Colombia also.
For more information on the Czech KC/C-390 deal, please see Czech Republic selects KC-390 tanker-transport aircraft .
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