The two aircraft will be used by the Czech Air Force for a range of mission types, including troop transport, medical evacuation (medevac), aerial firefighting, disaster management, humanitarian support, and air-to-air refueling.
The C-390 has a maximum payload of 26 tons, and has a top speed of 870km/h. It features a rear ramp and landing gear capable of flying to and from unpaved runways.
As well as supplying the aircraft, Embraer said it would provide a “comprehensive training and support package” to the Czech Air Force to ensure a smooth integration into the fleet.
“Past and present history clearly shows us that the military needs to be able to transport people and heavier cargo over longer distances,” said Jana Černochová, the Czech Defense Minister. “Evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan are clear evidence of this. I am therefore very pleased that we have managed to acquire aircraft for our Air Force that are capable of performing these tasks.”
Embraer also delivered a C-390 to the Hungarian military last month.