Embraer to develop a strong industrial partnership with Lithuania while strengthening its presence across Europe

Embraer is working with Lithuanian industry to establish long-term cooperation in aerospace and defense. This partnership follows Lithuania’s decision to select the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft in June 2025. Over the past few weeks, a delegation of experts from Embraer has traveled across Lithuania to meet with local industrial partners and visit several facilities. Their expertise spans several key areas, including MRO, Engineering, Innovation, Technological Development, and Supply Chain management.

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security commented: “We have met with several Lithuanian industrial organizations and have observed their expertise and capabilities. We will contribute to Lithuania’s defense capabilities with the C-390 Millennium aircraft and also support the country’s industrial and technological development.” 

Since the early 2000s, Embraer Defense and Security has steadily increased its presence in Europe through strategic investments in defense companies, the establishment of industrial facilities, and the expansion of its supplier network. Notably, over 40% of the C-390’s supply chain is sourced from European partners. 

Recently, Embraer has launched several key industrial cooperation projects with Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The formation of Embraer Defense Europe, headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, further demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to collaboration with the EU and NATO. This includes plans to establish C-390 Training Centers and deepen relationships with defense institutions across the region.

Discussions regarding industrial cooperation between Lithuania and Embraer reflect the strategic objectives outlined by Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, aiming to build a resilient and future-ready defense industrial base as well as cooperation with educational and research institutions.

The C-390 Millennium is a next-generation aircraft designed to operate in austere environments and under demanding conditions, offering superior speed, payload capacity, and mission flexibility.

Its selection aligns Lithuania with a growing number of European and NATO allies including Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, and Sweden who have also chosen the C-390 to modernize their air forces. By adopting the C-390 Millennium, Lithuania will significantly enhance its operational capabilities, with the added assurance that all operational needs and lifetime support for the aircraft can be provided entirely within Europe. 

Since entering operation in 2019the C-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability, and performance. The current fleet in operation has demonstrated a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%. 

The C-390 is capable of performing a wide range of missions, such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways, such as packed earth, soil and gravel. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.