SAO PAULO,— The United Arab Emirates has ordered up to 20 C-390 military cargo aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer, including 10 firm orders and 10 purchase options, in a landmark agreement that marks the first selection of the aircraft by a Middle Eastern country, according to company officials.

Embraer said the UAE deal is structured with confirmed orders and options, expanding the global reach of the C-390 program to 12 operator countries.

The aircraft is being positioned as a modern military transport platform for replacing aging fleets in several regions.

Bosco da Costa Junior, head of Embraer’s defense unit, told Reuters on Monday that the contract has a “differentiated” structure and could support further government-to-government sales in the Middle East.

He said the inclusion of purchase options could help expand the aircraft’s user base through cooperation between countries, though he did not name potential buyers.

The UAE currently operates both the Lockheed Martin C-130 and Boeing C-17 transport aircraft, which are part of its existing military airlift fleet.

Embraer has been actively promoting the C-390 as well as the Super Tucano light attack aircraft across the Middle East, where several countries are expected to replace older military transport fleets in the coming years.

The company estimates global demand for 400 to 480 military cargo aircraft over the next two decades, with around 260 aircraft worldwide already nearing or exceeding 45 years of service.

Embraer said these aging fleets will require replacement as governments prioritize operational readiness and lower operating costs.

Bosco da Costa Junior said global conflicts are not directly increasing aircraft sales but are influencing defense planning decisions, particularly regarding cost efficiency and fleet availability.

Embraer shares rose 2.5% following the announcement, outperforming Brazil’s Ibovespa index, which fell 0.9%. Analysts at Itaú BBA estimated the value of the firm order component separately at about $1 billion.

Embraer has also previously pursued opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s aging C-130 fleet, although company executives have said those prospects have weakened.

The Middle East remains a strategic focus for the company’s long-term defense expansion strategy.

(With files from Reuters)

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