The C-390 will complement the C-27J, strengthening the Lithuanian Air Drive and supporting interoperability with NATO companions.
Lithuania introduced on Jun. 19, 2025 the collection of the Embraer C-390 Millenium army cargo plane as its subsequent airlifter, and can quickly start negotiations with the Brazilian aviation main. Whereas the Ministry of Nationwide Defence (MND) has not specified the variety of plane it might purchase, LRT has put the determine at three airframes, the precise variety of C-27J Spartans the Lithuanian Air Drive at the moment makes use of.
The C-390 would complement the C-27J in service’s total army transport functionality. In truth, “the acquisition would again up the prevailing C-27J Spartan functionality,” the MND stated in its press launch.
The MND additionally added it “kicked off talks” after “concluding evaluations of proposed plane from three aviation firms primarily based on market evaluation information.” Nevertheless, it has not talked about the opposite contenders. Two of them are prone to be Airbus, providing the A400M, and Lockheed Martin, pitching its C-130 Hercules.
🇱🇹 Lithuanian MoD begins talks on new army transport plane.
✈️ After market evaluation, Embraer C-390 chosen as finest match for 🇱🇹 wants – a contemporary, multi-role improve for defence: transport, refueling, SAR, firefighting & extra.
📸 @embraer pic.twitter.com/KqVKY9KyFx
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) June 18, 2025
“The C-390 Millennium manufactured by Embraer Protection & Safety was chosen as the selection that ticked off essentially the most packing containers in Lithuania’s requirement listing,” the discharge defined. The C-390 Millenium is already utilized by Brazil (entered service in 2019), Portugal (2023) and most lately the Hungarian Air Drive (in 2024). Different future European operators are the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia. This makes Lithuania the ninth operator of the plane.
Lithuania’s C-27J Spartans
The Lithuanian Air Drive (LTAF, or Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos/LK KOP) at the moment operates three C-27J Spartans, made by Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica, now Leonardo. The final of those entered service late in 2009 and operated from the kind’s residence base in Siauliai.
The earlier two airframes had been delivered in 2006 and 2008 and noticed vital service in Afghanistan, with 300 journeys to the Central Asian nation in assist of the NATO forces there. The plane was “utilized for troop transportation, airdrop operations, medical airlift, VIP transportation and different particular assignments,” as per the Lithuanian Ministry of Nationwide Defence (MND).
#NOTÍCIA | Lituânia escolhe o C-390 Millennium da Embraer para fortalecer sua prontidão militar. Leia notícia completa: #EmbraerStories #C390 #Millennium pic.twitter.com/d62KpMP0u4
— Embraer (@embraer) June 18, 2025
Enhanced army functionality for NATO
The Lithuanian Ministry of Nationwide Defence (MND) assertion stated that the C-390 “will essentially strengthen the Lithuanian Air Drive functionality and assist wonderful interoperability between the Lithuanian defence and NATO companions.”
With its airlift functionality being largely in the direction of the tactical finish of the spectrum, requiring a extra present and heavier army cargo functionality can also be consistent with growing duty within the NATO alliance. That is notably because the U.S. underneath President Donald Trump. diminishes political and strategic assist to Europe, with France and Germany now taking part in a higher position in strengthening the alliance’s japanese flank earlier than Russia.
NATO additionally recognized Lithuania on Jun. 6, 2025 as one of many eight battlegroups, or Ahead Land Forces (FLFs), staffed by multinational armies from member states to determine “deterrence,” “ahead presence,” and “defence posture […] within the japanese a part of Alliance territory.”
Early May noticed the execution of the Train Iron Wolf 2025-I, the place the “defensive and offensive” operations by roughly 8,000 troops culminated in an airborne assault operation by the U.S. Military’s 173rd Air Assault Brigade, earlier than it transitioned to Train Swift Response 2025. The large use of tactical automobiles and specialised army gear would want higher and heavy-hauling airlift functionality.
Promote interoperability, collective safety and simplify logistics
Embraer stated in its press launch that, by adopting the C-390 Millennium, Lithuania will “considerably improve its operational capabilities whereas benefiting from the ecosystem and synergies current in Europe when it comes to assist and coaching.” That is owing to the big variety of European customers talked about above, that eases spare half availability, logistics and finally checks life-cycle prices.
The Lithuanian MND stated that the “analysis was primarily based on operational plane necessities,” of the Lithuanian army, moreover the “ecological and economical parameters, supply deadlines and potential for industrial cooperation of the producer, i.e. inclination for cooperation with enterprises and scientific establishments in Lithuania.”
Embraer has been recognized to be extra pleasant in the direction of native joint manufacturing and offset obligations. A proposed Embraer manufacturing facility in Poland will additional simplify logistics, convey down prices and generate jobs. That is particularly since Greece too has been reported to be contemplating the plane to interchange its older C-130 Hercules.
07 | Alenia C-27J Spartan | Lithuania Air Drive | 15.6.24 zrh pic.twitter.com/N4So0uDn8J
— LSZH Spotter 🇺🇦 (@Schmidy_87) June 15, 2024
The MND added that, “in comparison with different market choices,” C-390 Millennium additionally boasts “gas effectivity,” “decrease air pollution and relatively silent jet engines.”
“The plane are environment friendly in disaster and in peacetime attributable to their upkeep cycle suitable with civilian plane. One other consider favor is the producer’s dedication to contribute to the Lithuanian defence sector by industrial cooperation,” the discharge added.
Minister of Nationwide Defence Dovilė Šakalienė stated within the assertion: “We’re shopping for strategic airlift functionality, one thing briefly provide amongst NATO Allies in Europe, slightly than simply subsequent era air belongings. The hole has been introduced up in NATO conferences quite a few occasions. The brand new plane will allow a faster and extra economical airlift of kit and troops whereas on the similar time including to the general Alliance’s deterrent potential. Lithuania wants an plane with heavy raise capability and substantial operational vary, in addition to suitable with NATO requirements, in order that we are able to contribute in multinational missions as equals.”
A 🇸🇪 é a sexta nação europeia a escolher a aeronave de transporte multimissão C-390 Millennium da 🇧🇷 @embraer, juntamente com 🇦🇹, 🇨🇿, 🇭🇺, 🇳🇱 e 🇵🇹. pic.twitter.com/UYTOCYuota
— Defence 360° (@Defence360) November 10, 2024
Lastly, the acquisition of the C-390 Millenium may also be adopted by workouts that see cross-servicing of platforms belonging to allied nations, which has been a distinguished function of U.S. drills with NATO member states Finland and Netherlands. This enhances total plane availability.
