Slovakia selects Millennium airlifter

An artist's impression of the Embraer KC/C-390 Millennium airlifter in Slovakia markings, released following the signing of a letter of intent for three aircraft on 10 December. (Embraer)

Slovakia has selected the Embraer KC/C-390 Millennium aircraft as part of a wider effort to recapitalise its fixed-wing military transport capabilities.

The Brazilian manufacturer announced the selection, saying the Slovak Air Force's (Vzdušné sily Slovenskej Republiky: VSR) is to become the latest European operator after Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden, that have all signed for or selected the twin-jet tanker-transport aircraft.

“The Slovak Ministry of Defence (MoD) today signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Brazilian Ministry of Defense,” Embraer said on 10 December. “During this visit to Brazil, the Slovak Minister of Defence [Robert Kaliňák] acknowledged that the Embraer C-390 is the option that better fits Slovakia's future military transport requirements. It has also been mentioned the importance of the neighbouring countries [Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary] that have already acquired the C-390, enabling synergies in terms of training, logistics, and co-operation in the future capabilities and growth of their fleets,” Embraer added.

The statement said that the Slovak MoD will start formal steps towards the purchase of three C-390s in January 2025 (the Millennium is designated C-390 in its transport guise and as KC-390 in its tanker-transport guise when it has its wingtip tanking pods installed). Neither Embraer nor the Slovak MoD disclosed a contract value or delivery dates.