Up to 20 C-390 Millennium for the UAE Air Force
On 4 May 2026, the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, the UAE’s national authority for developing and regulating its defence and security industrial ecosystem, awarded Embraer a contract for 10 firm orders of the C-390 Millennium, with an additional 10 options, to enhance the country’s operational airlift capability in cooperation with an Emirati defence company.
Following an extensive evaluation process, including a full test campaign in the UAE’s operational environment, the UAE Air Force and Air Defense selected the C-390 Millennium as the aircraft best suited to meet its critical mission requirements while optimizing operational efficiency and lifecycle costs.
The selection of the C-390 is intended to replace the UAE Air Force’s current fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130H and L-100-30 Hercules transport aircraft, of which eight are reported active.
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, along with after-sales support for the C-390 Millennium fleet, will be developed in partnership with a national company.
The C-390 Millennium will enable the UAE Air Force and Air Defense to carry out a broad range of missions, including cargo and troop transport,airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, and operations from unpaved runways, while ensuring seamless interoperability with national assets and allied and partner forces.
At the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2009, the UAE announced plans for 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, with an option for four additional KC-130J tankers.
Although widely reported as a selection at the time, the C-130J deal remained conditional and was never fully signed as a final procurement contract. It required financing and final approval arrangements that were not completed in the originally planned form. Ultimately, the UAE did not transition its Hercules fleet to the C-130J, leaving the older C-130H aircraft in service until the current replacement decision.
Credit photos: Miguel B Santos (via jetphotos.com) and Embraer