Embraer has signed an exclusive strategic partnership agreement with Generation 5 Holding for the C-390 Millennium program in the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement, announced on May 4, 2026, focuses on advancing the Brazilian manufacturer’s military transport aircraft in the region. This deal builds on Embraer’s prior efforts to expand its defense presence in the Middle East, including memoranda of understanding signed in November 2025 with UAE-based firms AMMROC and GAL. Those pacts targeted maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, as well as training for the KC-390 Millennium, the military variant of the C-390.
The C-390 Millennium, a multi-mission transport aircraft, offers a 93 percent operational readiness rate and over 99 percent mission completion rate. It carries up to 26 tons of payload at speeds of 470 knots, supporting cargo and troop transport, airdrops, medical evacuations, and operations on unpaved runways. The aircraft can also serve as an aerial tanker or refueling receiver.
Embraer has shifted its regional strategy toward the UAE, dropping plans for a C-390 final assembly line in Saudi Arabia. Company officials stated that establishing two completion centers in the Gulf region is not feasible. The planned UAE facility aims to act as a Center of Excellence, featuring hangars for over 20 aircraft and supporting broader aerospace and defense collaborations.