The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic announced the start of negotiations on potential acquisition of the new-generation multi-mission Embraer C-390 "Millennium", a military transport aircraft. This decision was based on a market assessment and analysis prepared by Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defense, which identified the C-390 as the most suitable solution for meeting the requirements of the Army of the Czech Republic.

The Country intends to acquire two aircraft that will significantly increase its airlift capacity, allowing the Czech Army to perform various missions. Negotiations have started with the objective of prospective signing an acquisition contract for two aircraft and associated support, which includes a complete training solution for pilots, loadmasters, and technicians, spare parts, and a robust entry-into-operation plan with a local presence of Embraer personnel in country for an initial period.

Following this announcement, it becomes the sixth Nation and fourth NATO country in Europe to prefer the C-390 after Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Austria. 

The C-390 can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions (transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions), operating on temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil, and gravel. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refuelling equipment, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refuelling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.