Austria opted for the C-390 Millennium, developed by Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, as a replacement for its aging C-130 Hercules.

At a press conference, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, together with Major General Harald Vodosek, announced that all future planning will focus on the Embraer C-390 as the successor to the C-130 «Hercules». The C-130 «Hercules» has been in service with the Austrian Armed Forces for 20 years.

History of Austrian Hercules

The C-130 «Hercules» were purchased second-hand from the UK 20 years ago for around 40 million euros. They are three C-130Ks (RAF-customized version of the C-130H), which were upgraded by Marshall Aerospace prior to their arrival in Austria, but have accumulated 56 years of service to date.

The aircraft operate from the Linz/Hörsching base and are mainly used for supplying Austrian soldiers abroad, personnel rotation and disaster relief abroad. Due to their age, these C-130s require constant and costly maintenance, so it became necessary to acquire a successor system in the 20-ton class. Future C-390 Millenniums will also be stationed at Linz/Hörsching.

C-390 adds another European customer

During the press conference, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said: «true to our motto ‘Mission Forward’, we can finally announce another major milestone for our air force. Since 2003, the three ‘Hercules’ aircraft have completed many missions and have always been reliable transport equipment for our servicemen and women. Now it is time for the Embraer C-390 to replace the C-130 ‘Hercules’. Embraer’s aircraft system is the only one in the 20-ton class that meets all of our requirements. With this procurement, we are taking another big step towards a modern army and thus towards greater security for the Austrian population.»

The search for a successor to the Hercules began in 2021. The plan is to acquire four units (three on firm purchase, with an option for another one) to ensure availability to complete the assigned missions. As reported by the Austrian Ministry of Defense, the acquisition costs for a Millennium range between 130 and 150 million euros. Other countries, such as Brazil, Portugal and Hungary (and probably the Czech Republic as well) have already selected the C-390, which is gradually becoming the «de facto» replacement for the C-130 Hercules.

See also: Embraer bets heavily on C-390 Millennium for the Indian Air Force

Austria is looking to join this growing club of European C-390 operators to create opportunities for cooperation to make purchases more cost-effective and create synergies, for example in training. One of the desired partnerships is with the Netherlands, which is already under negotiation, having also opted for Embraer’s product. Delivery of the first new aircraft would be possible in 2026/2027, following successful negotiations.