Lithuania has selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as the country’s next military transport aircraft.
With the contract expected to be finalized in the coming months, the acquisition supports Vilnius’ efforts to enhance military capabilities and improve interoperability with NATO.
Several allies and EU countries have selected the C-390, including Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Austria.
The Czech Republic, Sweden, and Slovakia also chose the platform.
By adopting the C-390, Lithuania is expected to benefit from established European support and training networks associated with the aircraft program.
“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.
Features
The C-390 Millennium has a payload capacity of 26 tons and flies at speeds up to 470 knots (540 miles/870 kilometers per hour).
It supports missions such as cargo and troop transport, airdrops, and medical evacuation.
It is also used for search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian aid.
The aircraft can operate from temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil, and gravel.
Equipped for air-to-air refueling, it can serve as both a tanker and a receiver and has been tested for receiving fuel from another C-390 using wing-mounted refueling pods.
Lithuania Enhancing Defense
Amid rising security concerns, Vilnius seeks to boost foreign purchases while strengthening its local industry.
In May, Lithuania committed 300 million euros ($337.4 million) to enhance its defense sector.
The move follows the country’s plan to spend up to 6 percent of its GDP annually on defense from 2026 through 2030.
