Lithuanian president rejects criticism of military aircraft purchase

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has firmly defended the government’s decision to purchase three Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft from Brazil, dismissing political criticism and emphasizing the strategic importance of the acquisition.

Speaking to journalists, Nausėda underlined that the decision was grounded in extensive military and expert evaluations, which he said should not be second-guessed by politicians lacking technical insight, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

“The recommendations from the military and expert evaluations were made with deep knowledge of the matter. Therefore, politicians should not interfere or speculate on whether we are right or wrong in acquiring these aircraft,” the president said.

The planned procurement, valued at approximately €600 million, reflects Vilnius’ commitment to modernizing its military capabilities amid shifting security dynamics in the region. The Embraer C-390 Millennium, a next-generation transport aircraft developed by Brazil, is designed for a variety of operational roles, including cargo transport, medical evacuation, and aerial refueling.

Nausėda highlighted the aircraft’s growing international reputation and demand. “A number of countries are interested in purchasing these aircraft. They are in high demand, which speaks to the quality of the equipment,” he stated.

Currently, the Lithuanian Air Force operates three C-27J Spartan aircraft, which have been in service for over 15 years. The aging fleet is becoming increasingly costly to maintain, and the C-390s are expected to enhance both reliability and interoperability with NATO forces.

By Vafa Guliyeva