Industry · Defense
Key Facts
—The deal. A Greek parliament committee approved buying three Brazilian-made Embraer C-390 transport planes.
—The value. The planes account for about €550m to €600m ($630m to $690m) of a wider package.
—The rival. The C-390 is pitched against the long-dominant American C-130 Hercules.
—The streak. The Brazilian plane has won a string of European contests since 2021.
—The buyers. Recent customers include the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Portugal and the Czech Republic.
—The next step. The purchase still needs full ratification by the Greek parliament.
Greece is set to buy a military transport plane built not in the United States or Europe but in Brazil, the latest sign that Embraer has quietly turned its cargo jet into a European bestseller.
A committee of the Greek parliament has approved the purchase of three Brazilian-made military transport planes. The aircraft are the C-390, built by Brazil’s Embraer.
The planes form the biggest slice of a wider defense package. Their share is put at roughly €550m to €600m ($630m to $690m), with the rest going to drones and warship upgrades.
The broader package is worth more than a billion euros in total. Alongside the planes, it covers small submarines for special operations and air drones from the United States and Israel.
Why the Embraer win is a big deal
For decades, the market for medium military transport planes belonged to one aircraft, the American C-130 Hercules. It was the default workhorse for air forces around the world.
Embraer set out to challenge that grip with the C-390. The Brazilian jet is faster, carries more and, its backers say, costs less to run over its lifetime.
Those running costs have been a powerful selling point. Operators weighing decades of service look closely at the bill for fuel, crews and maintenance, not just the sticker price.
Embraer has also lined up local support in Greece. It signed a deal with a Greek aerospace firm to handle maintenance, giving the air force a way to keep the planes flying at home.
Greece wants the planes to replace its ageing fleet of older transports. Many of those aircraft have been grounded too often in recent years.
A winning streak in Europe
The Greek vote fits a clear pattern. Since 2021 the C-390 has won contest after contest across Europe, where many countries are retiring tired old transports.
The list of buyers keeps growing. The Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Portugal and the Czech Republic are among those that have signed up in recent years.
That run has turned a once-niche Brazilian programme into a serious global player. It now competes head to head with the established names of the defense world.
Europe has been fertile ground for that rise. Many air forces there are retiring decades-old transports at the same time, and they have been shopping for a modern replacement.
Greece adds a fresh name to a growing club. Each new buyer makes the plane a safer choice for the next, since a larger fleet means shared spare parts and training.
Live Company IntelligenceEmbraer SA ADR — the full investor dossier
Embraer S.A., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems worldwide. It operates through Commercial Aviation; Defense & Security; Executive Aviation; Services & Support; and Other segments. The Commercial Aviation segment develops, produces, and sells commercial jets. Its Defense & Security segment…
Net income rose to R$352.5 mn in 2024, from R$-185.4 mn in 2022.
What happens next
The committee’s approval is a major step, but not the last one. The purchase still needs full ratification by the Greek parliament before it is final.
Greece plans a sweeping military upgrade over the coming decade. The transport planes are one piece of a much larger modernisation drive.
Why it matters
For Brazil, the deal is a point of pride and a source of jobs. Embraer is one of the country’s few champions able to sell sophisticated machines to wealthy nations.
For the wider market, it shows how the old certainties are shifting. A plane from Latin America is now a credible choice for NATO air forces.
It also reflects a careful piece of diplomacy. Several recent European deals have been arranged through Portugal, an early buyer that can pass on aircraft options to its NATO partners.
For Greece, the choice is also about its own security. Reliable transport planes matter to a country that watches its airspace and its long coastline with care.
If the full parliament signs off, the deal will mark one more step in a quiet success story. A Brazilian factory, not an American one, will keep these European planes in the air for decades to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Greece agree to buy?
A Greek parliament committee approved the purchase of three Brazilian-made Embraer C-390 transport planes. They make up the largest part of a broader defense package worth more than a billion euros.
Why is the C-390 significant?
It directly challenges the American C-130 Hercules, which long dominated the market. The Brazilian plane is faster and carries more, and it has won several European contests since 2021.
Is the deal final?
Not yet. The committee’s approval is a key step, but the purchase still requires full ratification by the Greek parliament before it is concluded.
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