Portugal has authorized the acquisition of three Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft for Greece, another step toward completing a deal already approved by the Greek government.
The Portuguese Council of Ministers authorized the Ministry of National Defense to contract the three aircraft directly from a consortium formed by Embraer S.A. and Embraer Portugal S.A. The decision was approved on October 14 and published in Portugal’s official gazette on October 22.
The resolution also reveals that the Hellenic Republic has submitted a formal request to Portugal for the three C-390s and associated services, including training and initial logistics support.
Portugal will acquire the aircraft from Embraer and subsequently supply them to Greece under a government-to-government agreement. The final bilateral contract has not yet been signed.
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The unusual procurement structure uses options negotiated by Portugal when it expanded its own C-390 program in 2025. Lisbon acquired a sixth aircraft and secured options for up to ten additional C-390s intended for future purchases by European or NATO countries through government-to-government agreements.
The Greek transaction will be financed entirely with revenue generated by the sale of the three aircraft to Greece. Portugal has therefore authorized the expenditure necessary to place the order without funding the Greek acquisition from its own defense budget.
Electronic warfare equipment included
The Portuguese authorization covers up to €532.9 million (US$598 million) for the three aircraft and an initial logistics support package. A separate allocation of up to €57.1 million (US$64.2 million) covers electronic warfare equipment, training, logistics support, technical teams in Greece and program management.
The document does not specify the final configuration of the electronic warfare suite.
The expenditure can extend through 2031, although Greece expects to receive its first C-390 in 2027. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed that schedule in July, when the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense approved the acquisition of three aircraft.
Dendias described the three C-390s as a first step and said Greece intends to establish the capability to maintain both the aircraft and their engines domestically.
The C-390s will renew a Greek military transport fleet that currently includes Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Leonardo C-27J Spartan aircraft. Greece has faced persistent availability problems with its C-130 fleet in recent years.
The agreement with Portugal has developed over more than a year. Greece signed a letter of intent in June 2025 for a strategic partnership in military air transport, followed by a memorandum of understanding between the two governments.
Industrial preparations have also begun in Greece. Embraer and Hellenic Aerospace Industry signed a memorandum of understanding in May to develop local maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities for the future C-390 fleet.
Portugal became the first NATO country to order the C-390 in 2019. Its involvement now extends beyond operating the aircraft: the country has developed and certified a NATO configuration, established training activities at Beja Air Base and created a mechanism that allows partner countries to acquire additional aircraft through the Portuguese government.
