H.H. Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (Centre) at the signing of the contract by H.E. Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and Bosco da Costa Jr., President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security | Photo: Eissa Al Hammadi/ UAE Presidential Court
The Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement of the United Arab Emirates has awarded a contract to Embraer for the procurement of up to 20 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft for the UAE Air Force. The agreement includes 10 firm orders and options for an additional 10 aircraft, marking the first selection of the C-390 Millennium in the Middle East. The order represents the largest international order for the C-390 Millennium from a single country to date and marks the aircraft’s entry into the Middle East market.
The contract was signed in Abu Dhabi by H.E. Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and Mr. Bosco da Costa Jr., President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. The signing took place in the presence of H.H. Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Mr. Francisco Gomes Neto, President & CEO of Embraer.
According to the announcement, the UAE Air Force and Air Defense selected the C-390 Millennium following an evaluation process that included testing in operational conditions in the UAE. The aircraft was assessed for its ability to meet mission requirements and operational considerations.
H.E. Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, said, “This contract represents a significant operational enhancement to the UAE’s military airlift capability, strengthening force readiness and operational efficiency, and enabling the Armed Forces to effectively execute a wide range of missions across diverse operational environments. The selection of the C-390 Millennium follows a comprehensive technical and operational evaluation, ensuring high levels of performance and reliability, while supporting effective integration with existing systems and advancing the UAE’s multi-mission airlift capabilities over the long term,” he added
President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, Bosco da Costa Jr., said, “We are extremely proud that the United Arab Emirates has selected the C-390 Millennium to enhance its airlift capabilities. This game-changing, mission-proven aircraft will provide the UAE Air Force and Air Defense with the versatility and performance needed to carry out a wide range of missions anytime, anywhere, for decades to come. Embraer is fully committed to delivering the C-390 capability and providing world-class support to UAE, with the objective of building a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.”
As part of the agreement, maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities for the aircraft will be developed in cooperation with a national company in the UAE. The contract also includes provisions for after-sales support.
The C-390 Millennium is designed to perform a range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, and operations from unpaved runways. It is also intended to support interoperability with other national and allied systems.
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