The UAE is purchasing 10 C-390 Millennium transport aircraft with the option to purchase 10 more, making the UAE the largest export customer of the aircraft and a first in the Middle East.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed an agreement with Embraer to purchase 10 C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, with an option to purchase 10 more, making the UAE the largest export customer of the aircraft. The agreement was signed on May 4, 2026in the presence of UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Tawazun Defense Support Council booth at the Made in UAE expo in Abu Dhabi.
The Tawazun Defense Support Council is a UAE government entity located outside the Ministry of Defense that regulates the country’s defense industry. this ‘Be successful in the UAEThe expo represents the UAE’s efforts to increase industrial resilience and consolidate its position as a regional and global hub for advanced manufacturing. By bringing together defense innovators, government ministers, youth and the media, it is hoped that the UAE will strengthen its industrial self-reliance.
To this end, this contract C-390 The award is conditional on Embraer cooperating with the UAE’s own defense industry in the maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities of the aircraft. A UAE company will be assigned to perform these capabilities as well as any after-sales support required throughout the aircraft’s service life. This shows that although the UAE currently lacks the ability to produce its own heavy aircraft, it is still working hard to support its own defense industry.
Model C-390 Model 10 Model related content includes: كما تمثل أول دخول للطائرة إلى الشرق الأوسط، بما يعكس ثقة عالمية بكفاءة منظومتنا الدفاعية، ” ” pic.twitter.com/cMZ4PtiPr5
— Barney Barnedle (@HHmansour) May 4, 2026
Sheikh Mansour said in a translated post on
He further added: “This also marks the aircraft’s first entry into the Middle East, reflecting global confidence in the efficiency of our defense systems while supporting the localization of military industries and strengthening national industrial integration.”
The UAE’s selection of the C-390 represents its largest single export order for the aircraft, with most customers taking three to four aircraft to meet their country’s needs. If the option for an additional 10 aircraft is exercised, the UAE will become the largest operator of the C-390, while Brazil, the platform’s main customer, has ordered only 19 aircraft to date.
The UAE’s order also makes it the Middle East’s first export customer in a millennium, with most countries adopting aircraft from Europe. Most of them need to replace their aging existing C-130 fleets.
🇧🇷🇦🇪Major defense move: UAE targets Brazil’s C-390 transport aircraft
The United Arab Emirates has signed a major deal with Embraer to purchase 10 C-390 Millennium aircraft, with an option to purchase an additional 10, marking the aircraft’s first entry into the Middle East.
🔹Payload: 26 tons
🔹Speed: ~870km/h
🔹… pic.twitter.com/MGaHNNVhGg– Defense Index (@Defence_Index) May 5, 2026
The aircraft underwent an extensive evaluation process prior to selection to ensure the C-390 was suitable for the UAE operational environment, with the UAE Air Force selecting the aircraft as the best suited to meet its mission-critical requirements while optimizing operational efficiency and life cycle costs. The aircraft was selected for its ability to perform a variety of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, operations on unpaved runways and seamless interoperability with national assets and allied and partner forces.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Tawazun Council, and Mr. Bosco da Costa Jr., President and CEO of Embraer, in the presence of Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer.
Dr. Nasser said: “This contract represents a major operational enhancement of the UAE’s military airlift capabilities, enhancing the combat readiness and operational efficiency of the forces and enabling the armed forces to effectively perform a variety of missions in different operational environments.”
He later added: “The selection of the C-390 Millennium follows a comprehensive technical and operational assessment, ensuring a high level of performance and reliability while supporting effective integration with existing systems and enhancing the UAE’s multi-mission airlift capabilities in the long term.”
Bosco da Costa later explained: “This game-changing, mission-proven aircraft will provide the UAE Air Force and Air Defense with the versatility and performance required to conduct a variety of missions anytime, anywhere for decades to come. Embraer is fully committed to delivering C-390 capabilities and providing world-class support to the UAE, with the goal of establishing a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.”
C-390 Millennium
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is an indigenously developed twin-jet engine cargo transport aircraft designed to replace the C-130 Hercules in service with the Brazilian Air Force. Currently, Millennium is available in two versions: the C-390 transport and the KC-390 tanker transport, the latter capable of refueling other aircraft in the air using two Cobham-produced Wing Aerial Refueling Pods (WARP). This move is intended to support FAB’s Gripen E fighter jet Utilizing probe and cone refueling systems increases their operating range around the world.
The KC-390’s internal fuel tanks are roll-on/roll-off and can be quickly reconfigured depending on the mission needs at the time. The aircraft can accommodate three pallet fuel tanks, each carrying 4,000 kilograms of fuel, significantly increasing its fuel transfer capabilities. Importantly, the aircraft can also be refueled in flight as it can be equipped with a removable refueling probe mounted on the upper front part of the fuselage.
Northrop Grumman also recently announced a partnership with Embraer to further develop the KC-390 Millenium tanker transport aircraft, equipped with refueling arms alongside two refueling pods. For more information on this please read aeronaut here.
📍Beja, #Portugal (🇵🇹)
last week, #Brazil(🇧🇷) @embbraer Delivered fourth KC/C-390 Millennium to @fap_pt.
It is the first unit to be equipped with an air-to-air refueling pod, providing Portugal with a revolutionary new capability.
📸： @embbraer pic.twitter.com/WscHjhrIyx
— SA Defense (@SA_Defensa) February 1, 2026
Additionally, Embraer is actively researching millennium adaptations Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission, with a particular focus on Maritime Patrol (MPA). The aim is to produce a replacement for Brazil’s current aging fleet of aircraft P-3 Orion MPApurchased second-hand from the United States in the early 2000s.
The Millennium has similar airfield performance characteristics to the C-130, and it is billed as a more efficient alternative with faster top speed, longer range and greater cargo capacity, allowing for example the deployment of the Boxer armored vehicle from its 169 cubic meter internal cargo bay. Even the aircraft’s name, C-390, stands out as a clear branding decision that highlights the aircraft’s more modern design, which is a C-130 times three.
So far, the move has paid off, with many countries around the world choosing the Millennium aircraft to replace the C-130, including Sweden and the Netherlands. The aircraft has been successfully exported to NATO and has been joined by the two countries mentioned above. Portugal, HungaryCzech Republic and Slovakia operate the platform.
Lithuania had planned to order several Millennium aircraft, but those plans were postponed in January and the program budget was instead used to upgrade its existing C-27J transport aircraft. Outside of NATO, Brazil has chosen Millennium Aircraft as the main customer for the aircraft, while Austria has chosen the aircraft. Republic of KoreaUzbekistan and now the UAE already use the platform.