فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat: “Faro Maroc,” a forum specializing in news about the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, has revealed new details regarding the new Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, which the Royal Moroccan Air Force is expected to receive from Brazil soon. This move could represent a significant shift in the future of Morocco’s air transport fleet.
The source confirmed that Morocco is among the countries that operate military transport aircraft most frequently on a daily basis, whether for military, civilian, or humanitarian purposes, and that C-130H aircraft have formed the backbone of this fleet for decades. However, these aircraft, after more than 40 years of service, are in need of a successor that can keep pace with new challenges.
According to the forum, the Brazilian C-390 is characterized by a larger cargo capacity than its American competitor, the C-130J, in addition to its high speed and ability to reach more distant areas, making it ideal for humanitarian missions, transporting equipment and logistical support, and even for rapid interventions, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 crisis.
However, the forum cautioned about the limited military experience of the Brazilian aircraft, especially in airborne landing operations, operating in desert environments, or landing on unprepared runways, which currently prevents it from fully replacing the legendary American C-130, especially the upgraded C-130J version.
In this context, the source emphasized that the American C-130J remains the optimal choice, given Morocco’s accumulated experience in operating previous versions, the availability of supporting infrastructure, logistics, and industry, as well as an existing strategic partnership with the American company Lockheed Martin.
While Morocco is expected to acquire 2 to 3 C-390 aircraft to alleviate pressure on the C-130H fleet, the forum affirmed that this does not mean abandoning the C-130, but rather strengthening the Kingdom’s capabilities through diversification without compromising the fleet’s backbone.
It is worth noting that Embraer published a video during the 2024 C-390 Millennium User Conference, which featured the Moroccan flag alongside the flags of other operator countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Chile.
The C-390 Millennium is a multi-mission military transport aircraft capable of carrying 23 tons of cargo, with a cruising speed of 540 nautical miles per hour. It is marketed as a modern and effective alternative to its American and European competitors, especially for countries seeking to modernize their fleets without the massive costs associated with building complete support systems.
