Embraer and Mahindra plan C-390 Millennium MRO
Embraer and the Mahindra Group have announced plans to work towards establishing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capability in India for the C-390 Millennium upon selection in the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. The two companies entered a strategic partnership in October 2025 to produce the C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in India. This collaboration aims to support the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, with plans to establish local manufacturing strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative.
The C 390 offers a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and higher speed and range compared to other medium sized military transport aircraft. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions. The aircraft can operate from temporary or unpaved runways and may be configured for air to air refuelling, both as a tanker and as a receiver. The in service fleet has demonstrated a mission completion rate above 99 percent, highlighting its productivity and reliability.
The proposed MRO facility will provide comprehensive in country maintenance and sustainment for the C 390 fleet, supporting high levels of operational readiness and availability. The initiative reinforces the companies' joint commitment to positioning the C 390 Millennium as a strong solution for India's future medium transport aircraft requirements.
"Embraer is committed to delivering not only a world class aircraft, but also a robust, long term support ecosystem tailored to India's operational and industrial requirements," stated Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
"Embraer and Mahindra, intends to expand collaboration with Indian aerospace companies to drive higher localisation of C-390 Millenium and also to support MRO activities, reinforcing our commitment to the Government of India's 'Make in India' initiative and the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat", stated Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support of Embraer. "In addition to fleet support, this new facility could create high skill employment and further contribute to the integration of Indian companies into Embraer's global supply chain."
The C-390 Millennium has been selected by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania.
Embraer has a longstanding presence in India, with nearly 50 aircraft across 11 different types currently in operation in the country in commercial, defence and business aviation roles. In the defence segment, the ERJ145 platform serves as the basis for the Indian Air Force's Netra AEW&C aircraft, while the Legacy 600 is operated by the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force (BSF) for the transportation of government officials and VIPs.
Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer propose E175 FAL in India
Adani Defence & Aerospace, a leading player in India’s aerospace and defence, and the flagship company of Adani Enterprises Ltd and Embraer, have exchanged an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment of a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the E175 regional jet for India’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme. The MoU was exchanged between Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO, Embraer and Mr Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defence & Aerospace in the presence of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, Mr Piyush Goyal.
This advancement from the initial MoU signed in January 2026 represents a significant step forward and forms part of a broader roadmap to develop an integrated RTA ecosystem in India. The MoU also represents strengthening of strategic relations between India and Brazil. The industrial partnership will aim to establish an ecosystem for the E175. Both companies are already working together to progress all aspects of the MoU, including opportunities in aircraft manufacturing, supply chain, aftermarket services, and pilot training, and securing orders to support the proposed FAL.
As one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets in terms of passenger traffic, India is expected to require at least 500 aircraft in the 80 to-146 seat segment over the next 20 years. This reflects a strong demand for efficient regional and short haul connectivity driven by smaller, efficient jets.
The E175, a proven regional jet with seating for up to 88 passengers, is suited to unlock India’s ‘blue ocean’ opportunities in uncontested market spaces concentrated in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. These markets remain underserved by larger aircraft and the E175 can enable new routes, improved connectivity, reliable operations and accelerated expansion of regional air travel. As the government accelerates efforts to bring air travel to more people, the E175 offers a proven and efficient solution for the RTA, that aligns strongly with UDAN, which is transforming air connectivity across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of India.
Embraer and Hindalco in MoU
Embraer and Hindalco Industries Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct exploratory activities to assess potential business opportunities in India. The joint action aims to identify possibilities in aerospace grade aluminum raw material manufacturing to support Embraer’s industrial initiatives while strengthening the company’s commitment to the Make in India ambition.
“This joint action reinforces our focus to identifying local partners that can become our suppliers and, in doing so, accelerate the development of the Indian industrial base,” stated Roberto Chaves, Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain at Embraer. “The initiative enhances Embraer’s engagement to advancing the aerospace ecosystem in India, creating long term value across the entire supply chain”.
The signing of the MoU comes at a time when Embraer is steadily expanding its presence in India and maintaining active dialogue with local industry leaders and government stakeholders. Throughout this evaluation cycle, the company assessed a broad spectrum of industrial capabilities in the country, including aerostructure assembly, machining, metal forming, composites, wiring systems, and hardware and software development.