Embraer is set to collaborate with the South African company Denel. The two companies formalised their partnership concerning the Embraer C-390 Millennium during a defence exhibition in Brazil. The intention is for Denel to undertake the production of components and the maintenance of the C-390 in the future.
The (K)C-390M Millennium is a twin-engine transport aircraft currently in use by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary. Furthermore, five other countries, among which the Netherlands, have already placed orders for the Millennium. Furthermore, news came out recently that Sweden and Slovakia have selected the C-390 as the new transport aircraft for their respective air forces.
‘We are thrilled to strengthen our ties with Denel, a proven aerospace leader in South Africa, as the country looks to replace its legacy military aircraft. We are looking forward to providing South Africa with the most advanced aircraft in its category while cooperating with South Africa’s defense industry,’ said Fabio Caparica, Vice President of Contracts at Embraer Defense & Security
“Turbo Dak”
Following the decommissioning of the classic C-47TP “Turbo Dak,” the South African Air Force currently relies solely on the C-130 Hercules as its primary transport aircraft. Of the original nine Hercules aircraft acquired some 60 years ago, estimates go around that merely six remain operationally deployable. Although the South African Hercules aircraft are currently undergoing phased modernisation, these aircraft are approaching the end of their service life.
South Africa has shown interest in the C-390 for quite a while now. The Brazilian planemaker, furthermore, has demonstrated the aircraft twice already in South Africa. The most recent showing happened in September 2024 during an air show at Waterkloof Air Force Base. Despite these efforts, this has not yet led to a concrete order. It remains uncertain whether the new collaboration between Embraer and Denel will now lead to a breakthrough. The South African defense sector has been facing budget cuts for years, which severely impacts operational readiness. For example, of the 26 South African SAAB Gripen fighter jets, only a handful are currently operationally deployable.