The Ministry of Defense will purchase two Embraer C-390 Millennium medium transport aircraft. The total price of the contract, including additional equipment enabling firefighting or evacuating the injured, is 11.3 billion crowns without VAT. The purchase was approved by the government on Wednesday, Defense Minister Jana Černochová (ODS) said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. Defense began negotiations with Brazilian company Embraer last fall. Airplanes can be used, among other things, to transport heavy military equipment and people.
The ministry wants to conclude the contract with the manufacturer within a few weeks, the first machine should be available to the soldiers next year. “The Army of the Czech Republic will gain new capabilities in the transport of people and heavy material over longer distances, because we currently do not have planes to evacuate a large number of people from crisis areas, which would also have the appropriate security,” said Černochová. According to her, this was shown by the evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan or the recent evacuation from Israel.
“This year, we expect an advance payment of eight billion crowns, thanks to which we will receive the first machine next year,” the ministry said. The Czech Republic should receive the second aircraft in 2027 or 2028.
According to the minister, the Czech Republic will purchase the aircraft under similar conditions as other allied countries. Portugal, Hungary and Austria buy the same, for example. In addition to the planes themselves, the defense will also purchase additional equipment, such as a module for aerial firefighting, a module for refueling in flight or a module for transporting patients.
“The procurement of ground equipment, initial supply of spare parts or personnel training is also part of the contract,” the ministry said in a press release. The total amount of 11.3 billion crowns without VAT also includes an exchange rate reserve. VAT is 21 percent, so the price should be 13.7 billion crowns.
The aircraft, which is capable of taking off and landing at airports with unpaved runways, can transport up to 26 tons of cargo, according to the ministry, or can accommodate 80 passengers or 64 fully armed paratroopers. “The range, as with all transport machines, varies depending on the weight of the transported load. A fully loaded aircraft (26 tons) has a range of 2,000 kilometers, with a load of 23 tons then 2,720 kilometers and with a load of 14 tons 5,020 kilometers. The maximum range is over 6,000 km, with additional tanks up to 8,000 km,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the in-flight firefighting module will allow aircraft to be deployed to assist the integrated rescue system in managing large-scale fires. “Furthermore, we are buying a module for airplanes that will enable in-flight refueling, a module for transporting patients, including the possibility of placing stretchers for patients requiring intensive care, additional fuel tanks to extend the range, a self-protection system for operations in dangerous environments, a system for dispensing fuel on the ground FARP and a module for Search and Rescue operations,” the agency said. The planes will also have equipment for transporting passengers to a higher standard and a GPS repeater for special forces.
The Czech defense industry will be involved in the contract, the ministry signed an agreement on industrial cooperation, said Černochová. According to her, the estimated amount of industrial cooperation programs is more than 82.3 million dollars (1.87 billion crowns).
“The projects relate to the expansion of existing production at the company Aero Vodochody and the cooperation of the state-owned company LOM Praha to ensure the life cycle of the purchased aircraft,” added the minister. According to her, Embraer will also cooperate with universities in the Czech Republic in the field of autonomous vehicles and flying.
C-390 Millennium aircraft
The C-390 Millennium aircraft is a new generation multipurpose military transport aircraft developed by the Brazilian company Embraer. Its KC-390 in-flight refueling configuration is also being produced. The Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody participates in the production of the C-390, which produces the leading edge of the wing, the doors, the cargo ramp and the second part of the rear fuselage.
It is a medium-sized twin-engine aircraft. Its length is 35.2 meters, height 11.8 meters and span 35.1 meters. Its range is approximately 5,800 kilometers (with 14 tons of cargo), overflight range with additional tanks up to 8,500 km. The cruising speed is up to 870 km/h. The possibility of refueling in flight significantly increases its range and usability in demanding transport operations.
Embraer is a global airline company headquartered in Brazil. It operates in commercial aviation, defense and security aviation and agricultural aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and sells aircraft and aircraft systems, provides after-sales service and support to customers. Since its founding in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. The company also manages industrial plants, offices, service centers and distribution centers in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.
One of Embraer’s partners is the Czech Aero Vodochody, which has been cooperating with Embraer since 2011. Last October, Aero and Embraer signed an official contract amendment including a possible increase in Aero’s production share in the C-390 program, an increase in the value of cooperation and cooperation in the fulfillment of specific requirements of the Czech Ministry of Defense for the procurement of C-390 aircraft for the Czech army. Aero for the C-390 produces a complete wing leading edge, doors, cargo ramp and the second part of the rear fuselage of the aircraft.
