Embraer looks to challenge the C-130's dominance in the tactical transport market

The global market for military airlift has long been dominated by just a few options.Lockheed Martin’s C-130 has been a mainstay for decades, now representing 20% of the military cargo fleet worldwide.Airbus captures around 10% of the market with its C295 and A400 together, while Boeing’s larger C-17 represents 6% of the active global inventory.Leonardo’s C-27J doesn’t even make the top 10 list by market share, falling below China’s Y-8 and out-of-production designs from former Soviet manufacturer Antonov.But recently a new contender has been scoring win after win in competitions for new military airlifters.After launching operations in 2009, orders for Brazilian manufacturer Embraer's C-390 have started pouring in from around the world, now with 12 customers spread across Europe, Asia, Latin America and, most recently, the Middle East.FlightGlobal's defence team discusses Embraer's strategy in developing the C-390, with choices like opting for a jet-powered design over a turboprop.