Embraer has contracted Rheinmetall to supply C-390 transport aircraft flight simulators to train Royal Netherlands Air Force crews and ground personnel.
The deal includes a Full Flight and Mission Simulator (FFMS) as well as a Cargo Handling Station Trainer (CHST), with delivery scheduled for the end of next year.
Although the exact value of the order remains undisclosed, it is estimated to be in the double-digit million-euro range.
The FFMS allows crews to train under normal and emergency conditions, practice military operations, and manage over 350 malfunctions.
The model that will equip the Dutch Air Force is the first to incorporate a newly-developed image generator.
CHST provides training on cargo handling procedures for flight crews, loadmasters, and other personnel.
It features advanced visual display technology, allowing users to simultaneously view the aircraft’s cargo compartment interior and exterior.
Supporting European Air Forces
The flight simulators deal follows the Netherlands’ July 2024 plan to acquire Embraer’s C-390 transport aircraft to replace its aging C-130H fleet.
The purchase is part of a joint Dutch-Austrian program to procure nine aircraft, five for Amsterdam and four for Vienna.
Crews from Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary currently train with an FFMS and a CHST at a C-390 training center in São Paulo, Brazil.
Embraer and Rheinmetall are considering establishing a European training center to support current and future operators.
