The Brazilian government is negotiating the sale of Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft to Sweden, Defense Minister José Múcio confirmed this Tuesday (26). In return, the Swedes wish to sell another batch of Saab Gripen fighters to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
Speaking to reporters in Rio de Janeiro, Múcio confirmed that Sweden “is looking” at acquiring three or four units of the Embraer tactical freighter. “Let’s try to do business, they want to sell more Gripen to us too”, said the minister, also stating that he will go to Sweden in October to discuss the matter. “They are demanding our presence to deal with this.”
Múcio's speech comes days after the Austria announces selection of Embraer jet as a successor to its C-130 Hercules. Sweden, which also operates the North American model, wants to replace its planes. Last year, Stockholm even confirmed the purchase of used planes from Italy but the deal was canceled in March 2023, making room for Embraer's C-390.
More Gripens, more KC?
The sale of C-390s to the Swedes has been discussed since 2009, when the FX-2 Program was still in the competitor analysis phase. At the time, the Swedes offered to purchase the Brazilian model as part of the counterpart agreement.
The Gripens were acquired by the FAB in 2014, but the purchase of the KC-390s never took place. The FAB added four more aircraft to the 1st batch of 36 planes. A 2nd batch is already being negotiated, as 40 aircraft are not enough to replace the F-5 fighters and AMX attack jets currently operated.
The scenario could now change with Múcio's intervention and the war in Europe, which heated up the global defense market. At the same time, the KC-390 has been gaining customers on the Old Continent: Portugal, the program's partner, purchased five aircraft; Hungary acquired two units and the Netherlands signed a contract for five aircraft. In addition to the signed purchases, Embraer negotiates with several other countries, including India, the Czech Republic, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
