The Greek government has formally presented a new €1 billion defense procurement package to parliament that includes the planned acquisition of three Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force.
According to Greek media reports published on June 11, the package was submitted to the Permanent Armaments Committee and will now enter a review and approval process that could take about a year before contracts are finalized.
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The proposed acquisition of the three Brazilian-built transport aircraft is considered the largest element of the package, with local reports placing the value of the deal between €550 million and €600 million, including initial logistics and support services.
The procurement plan also includes AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, unmanned aerial and underwater systems, special operations equipment and other defense programs.
The C-390 acquisition would provide a long-term replacement for part of the Hellenic Air Force's aging transport fleet, particularly its C-130 Hercules aircraft, which have suffered from low availability rates in recent years.
Athens has been evaluating options to modernize its airlift capabilities for several years. Previous discussions included used Lockheed Martin C-130J aircraft from Italy, but those talks did not result in an agreement.
Interest in the C-390 became more visible in May, when Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed discussions with Portugal regarding a possible purchase of the aircraft. Portugal currently operates the type and holds additional acquisition options that can potentially be reassigned to other NATO members.
The structure being discussed would involve a government-to-government arrangement with Portugal, potentially simplifying procurement and support arrangements.
Embraer has already started preparing for a possible Greek order. In May, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) covering future maintenance, repair and overhaul activities for the C-390 in Greece.
The agreement would establish local support capabilities for a future Greek fleet and expand Embraer's presence in the country.
The C-390 has been under evaluation by Greece for several years. An Embraer demonstrator visited Elefsina Air Base in 2023, and subsequent reports indicated that the aircraft had emerged as the preferred solution for the country's tactical airlift requirements.
If approved, Greece would become the latest NATO member to select the C-390, joining a growing list of operators that already includes Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden.
