Greece reportedly plans to acquire three C-390 Millennium
Greece could be the next customer for Embraer’s C-390 Millennium airlifter. The Hellenic Air Force has reportedly listed the multirole jet in its long-term plan, with three aircraft to be acquired, according to OnAlert.gr.
The C-390 is said to have had an advantage over Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, which is also competing for an order to replace aging Hercules turboprops.
According to the outlet, in addition to three aircraft, there would be an option to order more C-390s in the future.
However, Embraer’s tactical freighters would only be received at the end of the decade, within a 12-year plan.
Until then, the active C-130s would be maintained while the fleet of C-27s, a smaller turboprop freighter, would be upgraded to remain operational until 2031.
OnAlert points out that the lower cost and technical characteristics of the Millennium would have convinced senior Air Force officials to lean towards acquiring the aircraft.
European customers
The growing list of European customers, most of them NATO members, would also have weighed in favor of the C-390. Currently, the Brazilian aircraft has been chosen by Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden.
The C-390 can fly faster (988 km/h versus 670 km/h) than the C-130J and carry 26 tons versus 21 tons of the turboprop.
The V2500 turbofan engines are also mentioned since they are widely used in commercial aviation, with more than 7,200 units built, which makes their maintenance simpler and cheaper.
The outlet, however, did not reveal a prediction about the future announcement of the acquisition by the Greek Air Force.
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