The UAE’s Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement has awarded a contract to Embraer for 10 firm orders and 10 options of the C-390 Millennium. The contract was signed by H.E. Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and Mr. Bosco da Costa Jr., President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, in the presence of H.H. Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates; and Francisco Gomes Neto, President & CEO of Embraer.
Comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, along with after-sales support services for the C-390 Millennium aircraft, will be developed in collaboration with a national company. Following an extensive analysis and evaluation process—including a comprehensive test campaign in 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 C-390 Millennium will enable the UAE Air Force and Air Defense to perform a wide range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, operations from unpaved runways, and seamless interoperability with national assets as well as allied and partner forces.
To date, this landmark agreement represents the largest international order from a single country for the C-390 Millennium and marks the aircraft’s first success in the Middle East, underscoring its strong alignment with the demanding requirements of modern air forces operating in complex environments.
H.E. Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi said: “This contract represents a significant operational enhancement to the UAE’s military airlift capability, strengthening force readiness and operational efficiency, and enabling the Armed Forces to effectively execute a wide range of missions across diverse operational environments. The selection of the C-390 Millennium follows a comprehensive technical and operational evaluation, ensuring high levels of performance and reliability, while supporting effective integration with existing systems and advancing the UAE’s multi-mission airlift capabilities over the long term,” he added
“We are extremely proud that the United Arab Emirates has selected the C-390 Millennium to enhance its airlift capabilities,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “This game-changing, mission-proven aircraft will provide the UAE Air Force and Air Defense with the versatility and performance needed to carry out a wide range of missions anytime, anywhere, for decades to come. Embraer is fully committed to delivering the C-390 capability and providing world-class support to UAE, with the objective of building a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.”
Generation 5 signs MRO deal for UAE’s C‑390 Millennium programme
Embraer and Generation 5 Holding have signed an exclusive strategic partnership agreement to cover a comprehensive scope of MRO for the C‑390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in the UAE. Under this agreement, the two companies aim to develop comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities and after-sales support for the aircraft in the UAE and the Middle East, focused on ensuring mission readiness, rapid response, and long-term fleet sustainability for regional operators. The partnership also encompasses opportunities for industrial and supply chain integration related to the C‑390 Millennium, and related training programs for technical, maintenance, and operational personnel, further supporting related knowledge transfer and workforce.
Commenting on this, Dr. Khalifa Murad Alblooshi, Managing Director of Generation 5, said: “This agreement with Embraer, one of the world’s aerospace industry leaders with more than 50 years of proven expertise, reflects our long‑term commitment to strengthening defence industrial capabilities, particularly in the areas of maintenance, repair, and training in the UAE. Embraer’s selection of Generation 5 Holding as its exclusive partner in the UAE strengthens our joint efforts to accelerate knowledge transfer and expand advanced technical capabilities, ensuring that the C-390 Millennium can be supported and sustained locally to the highest international standards. This reinforces our role as a trusted national partner and contributes to the growth of a self‑reliant defence ecosystem aligned with the UAE’s vision.”
“This agreement with Generation 5 reflects Embraer’s strong commitment to the United Arab Emirates and to building long-term partnerships,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “By partnering with Generation 5, a major industrial player recognised for its expertise, we are consolidating a broad scope of cooperation enabling the delivery of world-class support, training, and industrial participation for the C‑390 programme in the UAE.”
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