This decision initiates the process for the acquisition of three C-390 aircraft, in line with Lithuania’s legal and procurement frameworks. The acquisition is expected to bolster the country’s air mobility and defence capabilities within the NATO alliance.
“We have carefully studied the various types of military transport aircraft available on the market, and our assessment has clearly shown that the C-390 Millennium is the most suitable platform to meet our national military operational requirements,” said Loreta Maskaliovienė, Vice Minister of National Defence of Lithuania. “Therefore, Lithuania has chosen Embraer Company for further negotiations and expects to finalize the acquisition contract in the coming months,” she added.
The agreement also includes industrial cooperation, offering Lithuania opportunities for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, co-production of parts, and partnerships with knowledge institutes. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening local industry and technical expertise.
Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, expressed the company’s commitment to the European defence sector. “We are honoured to have been selected by the Lithuanian authorities,” he said. “This selection reflects Embraer’s commitment to strengthening defence capabilities in Europe. In this regard, the C-390, with its versatility, performance, and NATO interoperability, is the ideal platform — readily available to carry out the most demanding missions.”
The C-390 Millennium is designed for a wide range of operations in austere and demanding conditions, offering a payload capacity of 26 tonnes and speeds of up to 470 knots. It is capable of performing cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, firefighting, humanitarian missions, and aerial refuelling.
Lithuania joins a growing list of NATO and European nations – including Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Slovakia – that have selected the C-390 to modernise their military air transport fleets. The shared platform is expected to bring operational, logistical, and training synergies across Europe.
Since its entry into service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, followed by the Portuguese Air Force in 2023 and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the C-390 has shown high reliability with a 93% mission capability rate and mission completion rates above 99%. The aircraft’s performance continues to be proven across a variety of mission profiles and terrains.
