(H/T to Aviacionline)
Embraer recently hosted a C-390 flight carrying Marcin Walków, a Polish journalist with money.pl. This glimpse inside Brazil’s twin-engine transport aircraft comes as Poland’s Ministry of National Defense weighs the possibility of acquiring this versatile airplane.
The C-390 Millennium is a medium-sized military transport aircraft designed by Embraer. It boasts an impressive range and payload capacity, making it suitable for a variety of missions including transporting troops and equipment, aerial refueling, medical evacuation, and search and rescue. This feature set has piqued the interest of the Polish military, which is currently analyzing the C-390 as a potential option to bolster its airlift capabilities.
The Polish air force relies heavily on the aging C-130 Hercules for its transport needs. While a dependable workhorse, the C-130 is a turboprop design dating back to the 1950s. The Polish fleet consisted of five C-130E Hercules aircraft acquired second-hand from the United States in 2012. This acquisition was a significant upgrade from Poland’s previous reliance on even older Soviet-era transport planes. However, these second-hand C-130Es are also getting quite long in the tooth, having accumulated a significant number of airframe hours. This translates to higher maintenance costs and potential limitations on future operations. In an effort to modernize further, Poland bolstered its fleet in 2021 by acquiring five additional C-130H Hercules aircraft, also procured second-hand from the United States. While the C-130H represents a more capable variant compared to the E model, these airframes are still not new. The Polish military is likely looking for a solution that can address the limitations of its current fleet, both in terms of age and capability, and provide a more future-proof platform for its airlift needs.
The competition for military transport contracts is fierce. European airlift is currently dominated by the Airbus A400M Atlas, while Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules remains a popular choice for many nations due to its long history of service. Embraer is actively seeking to break into this market, and views Poland as a potential customer. Several European nations, including Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, have already signed on for the C-390 in a NATO configuration.
For now, the Polish Ministry of National Defense remains tight-lipped about the details surrounding its potential acquisition of military transport aircraft when asked by money.pl. Citing confidentiality, they haven’t revealed which specific models are under consideration or a timeline for a decision.
However, the Polish interest in the C-390 cannot be ignored. This potential purchase could be seen as a strategic move to diversify Poland’s military suppliers beyond the traditional European and American options. It could also signal a closer military relationship with Brazil. Only time will tell if Poland joins the growing list of C-390 operators, but one thing is certain: the competition for dominance in the European military transport market is heating up.
For more information, hit the Source below