UAE orders 20 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft from Brazil in Middle East first.

The United Arab Emirates has ordered up to 20 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft from Embraer, marking the aircraft’s first entry into the Middle East market and significantly boosting the UAE’s tactical airlift speed and flexibility. Confirmed by Embraer on May 4, 2026, following a contract signing in Abu Dhabi, the deal strengthens the UAE’s ability to move troops, equipment, and humanitarian aid faster across regional theaters, improving response times and operational reach in both combat and crisis scenarios.

The C-390 delivers jet-powered airlift with a 26-ton payload and high sortie generation, allowing it to bridge the gap between legacy Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and heavier Airbus A400M Atlas fleets. Its combination of speed, multi-role configuration, and operation from austere airstrips enhances mission versatility while supporting broader trends in rapid deployment, fleet modernization, and sustained regional force projection.

Related topic: Greece could buy 3 C-390 transport aircraft from Brazil by May 2026 to replace U.S. C-130 fleet

The contract signed in Abu Dhabi marks the first confirmed order of the Embraer C-390 Millennium in the Middle East and establishes the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense as its regional launch operator. (Picture source: Brazilian Air Force)

On May 4, 2026, the Brazilian company Embraer signed a contract in Abu Dhabi with the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement for the acquisition of 20 C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, formalizing the first entry of the aircraft into the Middle East and initiating a transport fleet modernization effort. The agreement covers 10 firm aircraft and 10 additional purchase options, effectively setting a maximum fleet size of 20 units, and was signed by Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi and Bosco da Costa Junior in the presence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The procurement follows a test and evaluation campaign conducted within the UAE under local environmental conditions. The contract also includes provisions for local industrial participation and the establishment of maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities inside the country. This order constitutes the largest single-country export commitment for the C-390 program, and the aircraft is intended to support both military and non-combat missions. The structure of the agreement combines an initial procurement of 10 C-390s with an option mechanism allowing expansion to 20 units, providing flexibility in force planning and budget allocation over time.

No official contract value has been released, but applying a unit price range of €80 million to €85 million places the potential total program value between €800 million and €1.7 billion if all options are exercised. This makes it one of the largest defense aviation acquisitions in the UAE transport segment in recent years. The agreement includes a clause requiring cooperation with a UAE national defense company, linking acquisition to domestic industrial output. The presence of senior leadership at the signing indicates state-level oversight of the procurement. The scale of the order suggests a long-term integration into the national fleet, as the option structure allows phased procurement aligned with future operational requirements.

In the UAE, the C-390 will support cargo transport, troop movement, airdrop operations, humanitarian missions, and medical evacuation. The aircraft selection resulted from an evaluation process conducted by the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, combining analytical assessment and operational testing. The C-390 was tested under UAE environmental conditions, including high ambient temperatures and likely operations from semi-prepared or unpaved airstrips, which are relevant to regional deployment scenarios. Evaluation criteria included mission suitability across multiple roles, operational efficiency measured in sortie generation and fuel consumption, and lifecycle cost considerations, including maintenance and sustainment.

The aircraft was assessed against mission profiles defined by the UAE, including tactical airlift and multi-role operations. The outcome of the process identified the C-390 as meeting the defined requirements more effectively than alternative candidates. This indicates a procurement process structured around measurable performance parameters, but also confirms that the selection followed a strict technical validation phase prior to contract award. The C-390 Millennium is a twin-engine jet transport aircraft powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, each generating about 31,000 lbf of thrust, allowing a cruise speed of Mach 0.8 or about 870 km/h.

This speed is significantly higher than that of turboprop aircraft in the same class, such as the C-130, which operates closer to Mach 0.5. The Brazilian aircraft has a maximum payload capacity of about 26,000 kg and a cargo hold measuring about 18.5 meters in length, 3.45 meters in width, and about 2.9 meters in height. It can carry up to 80 troops, 66 paratroopers, or 74 stretchers for aeromedical evacuation, depending on configuration. The aircraft is equipped with a rear ramp supporting roll-on and roll-off cargo operations and airdrop systems, including low-altitude extraction methods. It is designed to operate from semi-prepared runways using reinforced landing gear and low-pressure tires.

The avionics include fly-by-wire controls and integrated mission systems that reduce crew workload and enable rapid role reconfiguration. Within the United Arab Emirates' force structure, the aircraft is expected to operate alongside existing transport assets, including C-130H and C-130J aircraft, Airbus A400M, and Boeing C-17 aircraft. The C-390 occupies a position between the C-130 and A400M in both payload and range, offering a range between about 2,000 km and 5,000 km depending on payload. Its payload exceeds that of most C-130 variants while remaining below the upper capacity of the A400M, creating overlap with both categories.

The jet propulsion provides faster transit times, which increases sortie generation rates for regional missions. This allows more efficient allocation of missions across the fleet, with C-17 aircraft reserved for heavy strategic lift and A400M aircraft for long-range tactical operations. The C-390 is suited for medium-lift missions with higher operational frequency. It supports regional deployment across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The integration enhances fleet redundancy and operational flexibility. The agreement includes the establishment of a domestic maintenance, repair, and overhaul capability within the UAE, combined with after-sales support and sustainment services delivered in cooperation with a national partner.

This arrangement ensures that maintenance and fleet sustainment can be conducted within the country rather than relying on external facilities. It implies a transfer of technical knowledge related to aircraft systems and maintenance procedures. The inclusion of a local partner aligns with UAE policy objectives focused on defense industrial localization. Sustainment infrastructure will support long-term operational availability of the fleet. The arrangement also reduces logistical dependency on external support networks. It contributes to the development of local technical expertise and workforce capabilities. 

The contract follows a global demonstration campaign conducted by Embraer, during which the C-390 Millennium flew about 47,000 nautical miles, completed 54 flights, and accumulated about 140 flight hours across 11 countries over a period of about 70 days. The campaign included operations in a wide range of environmental conditions, from Arctic cold environments to hot and humid climates relevant to Middle Eastern operations.

Demonstrated missions included transport of containers, wheeled vehicles, heavy equipment, and aeromedical modules, as well as palletized cargo operations. Tactical loading and unloading via the rear ramp and airdrop operations were conducted during the campaign. The aircraft maintained high mission completion rates and availability throughout the deployment. The campaign included participation in international air events such as the Singapore Airshow and FIDAE in Chile. The UAE contract was signed shortly after the conclusion of this campaign, indicating a direct link between demonstration exposure and procurement timing.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.