The Swedish Defense Minister signed a letter of intents to begin the acquisition process for the C-390, after previously exploring the acquisition of second-hand C-130Js.
Sweden has announced that it has selected the Embraer C-390 as the replacement for the Swedish Air Force’s aging C-130H fleet, which is known there as the Tp84. Defense Minister Pål Jonson signed a Letter of Intents (LOI) on Nov. 9, 2024, during a defense minister’s meeting in Brazil, expressing the will for an expanded cooperation in the aviation area and officially starting the acquisition process.
The C-130H has served in the Swedish Air Force for over 50 years, however it is becoming increasingly old and it has accessibility problems, says the service. The search for a replacement has now been ongoing for a long time, with reports in 2022 about a possible acquisition of second-hand C-130Js.
“This means we can take a long-awaited step and begin the process of replacing our current transport aircraft with the C-390 aircraft system,” said the Chief of the Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Carl-Johan Edström, talking about the LOI. “Now we can begin the work to ensure the operational need for a long-term tactical transport aviation capability.”
The LOI has been favorably welcomed by the Swedish armed forces as they continue their modernization process. The acquisition of the C-390 further strengthens the bilateral relations between Sweden and Brazil, after the sale of the Gripen E to the South American country.
“It is very satisfying that we are now approaching a long-term solution and the C-390 is a highly qualified platform with great development potential,” said Air Force Chief Major General Jonas Wikman. “Now we are fully focused on getting this absolutely central capability in place as soon as possible.”
The replacement of the Tp84
Before the decision to completely replace the C-130H fleet, Sweden has been looking at ways to upgrade the aircraft currently in service. However, the upgrade program would have reduced the number of the operational aircraft for the time being. Five C-130Hs (Tp84) and one KC-130H (Tp84T) are still in service, with oldest aircraft retired ten years ago.
“We decided not to modernise our C-130Hs, because it meant the fleet numbers would drop for several years while they were away being modified, which would take six to nine months at a time”, said Major General Edström, then Swedish Air Force Chief of Staff.
The choice of the new aircraft was already expected by the end of the year, with the two candidates being the C-390 Millennium and C-130J Super Hercules. In 2023, Brazil reportedly negotiated a potential sale of the C-390, while Lockheed Martin offered the C-130J-30 earlier this year.
“Our H-model C-130s are pretty old,” says deputy Swedish air force commander Brigadier General Tommy Petersson. “We intend to replace them, and I hope the decision is very soon.” According to FlightGlobal the remaining Swedish C-130s are 43 years old, while the KC-130 is 55 years old.
Sweden now becomes the eighth nation overall and the fifth in Europe to acquire the Brazilian-made cargo aircraft, after Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea and Czechia. The acquisition is part of the ongoing modernization which is radically changing the face of the Swedish armed forces, started well before the entry into NATO.
“It is a heavy workload for us in the latter half of the 2020s, because we are replacing almost everything,” Petersson told journalists earlier this year. Among the other programs are the acquisition of 60 Gripen E fighters, two GlobalEye airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft and the replacement of the NH90.
Second-hand C-130s
In 2022, the then Swedish Air Force Chief of Staff said that the service was looking to acquire at least four second-hand C-130Js from Italy, as the procurement of these aircraft has been judged as a better option than an upgrade program. While this was not officially confirmed by the two countries, it was reported at the time that the Italian government had six C-130s on sale.
“We are buying the first two from the Italian Air Force, which will be modified at a later stage”, said in 2022 Major General Carl-Johan Edström. “We hope to acquire six and the second pair will also come from Italy. So, replacing all six C-130Hs with six C-130Js.”
The first two aircraft were expected to be delivered in 2023, with the replacement of the fleet completed in 2025. The acquisition of the C-130J has been judged a perfect choice by Major General Edström: “It’s a great decision to go for the C-130Js. They can fulfil the needs of the special forces, army and air force – it’s the perfect design for the Armed Forces.”
The C-390 Millennium
The C-390 Millennium, developed by Embraer, is a next-generation military multi-mission aircraft with exceptional cargo capacity. This spacious 169 m³ compartment can accommodate various payloads, including vehicles, cargo on pallets, troops, medical patients, and auxiliary fuel tanks.
The aircraft’s versatile design makes it suitable for a wide range of missions, from tactical operations to humanitarian assistance. The C-390 also can be quickly configured to perform aerial refueling, with the designation KC-390, with the installation of two Cobham-produced wing aerial refueling pods (WARPs).
The C-390’s rugged construction allows it to operate from semi-prepared and damaged runways, a critical feature for austere environments and combat zones, as demonstrated in recent conflicts. It features a long cargo ramp, hydraulic stabilizer struts, and a cargo winch, enabling efficient loading and unloading of cargo.
The KC-390’s cargo bay supports roll-on/roll-off auxiliary tanks, with up to three palletized tanks, each capable of carrying 4000 kgs of fuel, significantly increasing its fuel transfer and storage capabilities. The KC-390/C-390 can also be refueled in flight, as it can be equipped with a removable refueling probe installed on the upper-forward fuselage.
