Slovakia has selected Embraer’s C-390 tactical transport, and plans to advance a three-unit deal early next year.
Bratislava’s defence ministry on 10 December signed a letter of intent with its Brazilian counterpart, “paving the way for a deeper industrial cooperation between the two countries”, Embraer says.
“The Slovak Ministry of Defence will start formal steps toward the purchase of three C-390s in January 2025,” the airframer adds.
“We are confident that the C-390 is the most suitable aircraft to meet the needs of the Slovak air force,” says Embraer Defense & Security chief executive Bosco da Costa Junior.
The European NATO nation’s current air transport fleet includes two Leonardo C-27J tactical transports and five Aircraft Industries L-410s, FlightGlobal’s 2025 World Air Forces directory shows. It also is in the process of fielding a new fleet of 14 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters, and has a pending requirement for a dozen Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters.
Slovakia’s selection of the C-390 marks the latest success for the twinjet transport, which is currently in service with the air forces of Brazil, Hungary and Portugal. Other confirmed customers are Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and South Korea, while Sweden also recently announced its intention to purchase the type as a replacement for its aged Lockheed C-130H fleet.
