Embraer and Mahindra deepen C-390 Millennium partnership in India
The new agreement strengthens Brazil–India defence cooperation through the C-390 Millennium.
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In a significant step forward for its international expansion strategy, Embraer Defense & Security and the Mahindra Group signed on 17 October a Strategic Cooperation Agreement to advance the proposal of the C-390 Millennium for the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The announcement took place in New Delhi, during the inauguration of Embraer’s new office at Aerocity, marking the consolidation of the company’s presence in one of the world’s most dynamic defence markets. The agreement builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2024, expanding its scope to include local industrialisation, joint marketing, and the creation of a regional support hub for the C-390 in India.
A step aligned with “Atmanirbhar Bharat”
The initiative fits within India’s drive for defence self-reliance, known as Atmanirbhar Bharat, combining Brazil’s aerospace innovation with India’s advanced manufacturing capabilities. According to Embraer, the long-term goal is to position India as a manufacturing, maintenance, and support hub for the C-390 Millennium, meeting both national and regional requirements.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, stated that the agreement “reflects not only our commitment to the Indian Air Force but also the growing friendship between Brazil and India.”
Vinod Sahay, Executive Board Member of the Mahindra Group, highlighted that the C-390 is “unmatched in capability, efficiency and versatility,” and fully aligned with India’s ‘Make in India’ philosophy.
A proven workhourse
The C-390 Millennium is the most modern military transport aircraft in its class. With a 26-tonne payload capacity, 470-knot top speed, and the ability to operate from semi-prepared runways, it has achieved a mission completion rate above 99%, demonstrating exceptional reliability and operational efficiency.
Its wide mission set includes cargo and troop transport, airdrop, medical evacuation, firefighting, humanitarian operations, and aerial refuelling — both as a receiver or tanker. The aircraft is already in service or on order with Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Lithuania, and an undisclosed customer, standing as a mature alternative to platforms such as the Airbus A400M and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.
A new dimension in Brazil–India defence cooperation
The new agreement comes amid a broader industrial and diplomatic rapprochement between Brazil and India. Sources in both countries indicate that officials are exploring cross-cooperation initiatives that could include the acquisition of C-390 Millennium aircraft by India, while Brazil might consider the HAL Tejas light fighter and the Akash surface-to-air missile system as part of a reciprocal industrial framework.
If materialised, this initiative would mark an unprecedented cooperation milestone between two major emerging defence powers of the Global South, enhancing both industrial integration and strategic autonomy.
India as a regional C-390 hub
Beyond the MTA competition, Embraer envisions India as a regional production and export base for the C-390 Millennium, leveraging its strong industrial ecosystem and geostrategic position between Asia and the Middle East.
With over 40 Embraer aircraft currently operating in India — across defence, commercial and executive segments — and Star Air flying an all-Embraer fleet, the Brazilian manufacturer is steadily expanding its industrial footprint in the country.
Together with the opening of its new subsidiary in New Delhi, the partnership with Mahindra represents Embraer’s most ambitious investment in Asia to date, and could turn the C-390 Millennium into a symbol of strategic cooperation between the two largest democracies of the Southern Hemisphere.
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