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Brazil Embraer Defense & Security
Embraer C-390 Millennium
A twin-jet medium military transport developed by Embraer for tactical and strategic airlift, air-to-air refueling and medical evacuation, offering jet speed and a 26-tonne payload. Adopted by Brazil and several NATO and European air forces, it is marketed as a faster alternative to turboprop airlifters.
In service since 2019 · 6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
988
km/h
5,020
km range
11,000
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $90,000,000, Consistent with reporting on the aircraft's base, lightly equipped configuration, but recent European contracts bundling simulators, spares and training price it considerably higher: Portugal's 2025 order and the joint Austria and Netherlands buy both worked out to roughly EUR 130 to 165 million, about USD 140 to 178 million, per aircraft. This figure is closer to a base flyaway cost than a fully supported export package price.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Brazil export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 6 operators
In service since 2019. Status: active · ~25 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$225M – $315M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~35 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. Published studies put O&S anywhere from ~55% to ~70% of lifecycle cost depending on platform and method, which is why this is a band and not a single number. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
No comparable transport aircraft from another manufacturer in the WeaponSpecs database yet. That is a gap in this catalog, not evidence that none exist. Browse the class →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 988 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 870 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 5,020 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 11,000 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 35.2 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 35.05 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 35,000 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 86,999 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. On an unmanned ground vehicle, this is the maximum mission payload the platform carries, including a weapon station. | 26,000 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 80 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x International Aero Engines V2500-E5 turbofans |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 139 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $90,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 25 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
Specifications compiled from public Embraer Defense & Security and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-05.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium has a maximum speed of 988 km/h.
What is the range of the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium has a maximum range of 5,020 km.
How much does the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium weigh? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium has a combat weight of 86,999 kg.
How many crew does the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium require? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium use? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium is powered by the 2x International Aero Engines V2500-E5 turbofans.
What is the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium used for? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium is a transport & tanker typically used for transport, aerial refueling.
How many countries operate the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium cost? +
The Embraer Defense & Security Embraer C-390 Millennium has an approximate unit cost of 90,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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