Lithuania has suspended funds for the procurement of Brazilian-made Embraer C-390 Millennium military aircraft, effectively freezing the procurement process, until a corruption investigation affecting the procurement process is completed.
The decision was confirmed by the Lithuanian Minister of Defense. In his statement to public broadcaster LRT, the minister emphasized that no contract will be signed until the investigation is completed and the sources of funding are clarified.
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The country’s most important anti-corruption agency is conducting the investigation
The investigation is being carried out by the Lithuanian Special Investigative Service (STT), Lithuania’s main anti-corruption agency. After members of the National Security and Defense Committee expressed concerns about the transparency and speed of the supplier selection process, STT initiated a preliminary review of the procurement procedure for three C-390s.
The purchase of the three aircraft was announced in June 2025, following the approval of the State Defense Council. At the time, Embraer confirmed that the C-390 had been officially selected as the future transport platform for the Lithuanian Air Force.
Negotiations were ongoing and dependent on financing
Before the freeze, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense stated in a statement in September 2025 that the contract had not yet been signed and negotiations were ongoing — especially in the context of the joint procurement with the Netherlands, which uses the C-390. The continuation of the project was dependent on the provision of additional financing, including possible European funds.
Opposition MPs and some parliamentarians criticized the plan, arguing that Lithuania should prioritize modernizing existing C-27J Spartan aircraft rather than investing in new platforms. They also suggested that resources be diverted to more urgent areas, such as air defense, while the investigation continues.
Freeze a political decision — not legally required and deal could be revived
Although the existence of the investigation does not require a legal halt to the procurement process, the Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the decision is purely political: No funds will be released until the STT completes its review. If the investigation finds no irregularities and funding sources are found, Lithuania can restart the project.
According to original plans, delivery of the first C-390 was to be made in mid-2028.
This freeze marks a significant step back for Lithuania’s military aviation modernization program. The country sees the C-390 as a more modern and high-capacity alternative to older aircraft and aims to increase interoperability with European and NATO partners.
Sources and images: Embraer | Militarnyi | LRT. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
