Poland has joined the list of countries evaluating a possible acquisition of Embraer C-390 Millennium airlifter. The information was shared by Polish journalist Marcin Walków, from Money.pl.
According to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense, the government is analyzing aircraft that can provide tactical transport, medical evacuation and aerial refueling.
The Polish Air Force currently has a fleet of five Lockheed Martin C-130E Hercules, received since 2009, and is receiving another five of the C-130H variant, transferred by the US Air Force (USAF).
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They are all used aircraft manufactured between the 70s and 80s. In addition, Poland has a fleet of 16 Airbus C295 and 23 Antonov An-28.
A possible concern about the useful life of the Hercules, especially the C-130E, may explain the current search for a new tactical transport aircraft that can perform other missions.
The Russian military invasion of neighboring Ukraine could also play an important role in a possible takeover as the Polish government has invested more in defense, including the purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter and the order of KAI FA-50 light attack and training jets.
As a member of NATO, Poland could also benefit from the support of other C-390 customers such as Portugal, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The Polish government, however, did not explicitly name the aircraft being evaluated due to the “secrecy clause” of the matter.
