Austria attends KC-390 user meeting ahead of C-130K replacement decision

Reflecting its interest in the KC-390 (pictured) as a potential replacement for its ageing C-130K airlifters, Austria recently attended the type's user meeting in Portugal. A decision on whether to buy it or another type will be made “in the coming months”, Janes was told. (Embraer)

Austria attended the recent user meeting for the Embraer KC-390 Millennium on 28 March, as it looks to finalise a selection decision for its Lockheed Martin C-130K Hercules replacement plan.

The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa: FAP) hosted the event at Air Base No 11 in Beja, during which Austria joined countries that have already ordered or have committed to ordering the Brazilian-made tanker transport, and discussed co-operation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing on the aircraft.

“During the four days of the event … for sharing experiences and ideas about the aircraft, representatives from Austria, Brazil, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands were present, … as well as the entities involved in the design of the aircraft, especially Embraer,” the FAP said on 29 March.

The Austrian Air Force has a requirement to replace three former UK C-130K aircraft, as outlined in the latest defence budget that was published in October 2022 and which will run through to 2027. The KC-390 is one of the platforms being considered for that requirement, with other surplus C-130s, Leonardo C-27J Spartans, and Airbus C295s being contenders also.

A Bundesheer spokesperson told Janes that despite attending the KC-390 user meeting, no decision on a type selection for the C-130K replacement requirement has yet been made. “This will fall in the coming months,” he said. The selected type is expected to be in service by 2029.