• Joins forces with Mahindra

Bangalore. 13 February 2025. At Aero India 2025, Embraer reaffirmed its long-term commitment to India’s aerospace and defence sector by showcasing its flagship C-390 Millennium and expanding its Make in India partnerships. Led by President and CEO Bosco da Costa Jr., Head of Defence for Embraer, India Head Shankar Srivastava and Chief Commercial Officer Federico Lemos, the session highlighted Embraer’s efforts in modernizing India’s military transport fleet, developing local manufacturing capabilities, and strengthening defence collaborations.

The C-390 Millennium, a next-generation multi-mission transport aircraft, is being positioned as a cost-effective, high-performance solution for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. Embraer, in partnership with Mahindra Group, aims to establish local production facilities that will create thousands of skilled jobs and further India’s push for self-reliance in aerospace.

Embraer’s journey began as a defence-focused company, and over its 55-year history, it has delivered more than 9,000 aircraft to 2,000 customers worldwide, including over 60 air forces and government agencies. The company has established a strong global presence with 21,000 employees and continues to expand its footprint in India.

Bosco da Costa Jr. highlighted Embraer’s financial strength, with the company delivering 206 aircraft in 2024 and achieving its highest-ever backlog of $26.3 billion. Recognized for its commitment to quality and safety, Embraer has been awarded the Great Place to Work certification and has earned investment-grade ratings from Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s.

“The C390 Millennium is a next-generation multi-mission transport aircraft designed to meet the demands of the 21st century. Offering unparalleled mobility and operational flexibility, this platform redefines the military aviation. Built to excel in the most challenging environments, the C390 combines speed, precision and reliability, ensuring mission success in every operation,” he stated.

In India, Embraer operates across multiple domains 48 Embraer jets, 8 out of which are defence aircraft, 9 commercial aircraft, and 31 business jets currently in service. The ERJ 145-based airborne early warning aircraft (Netra) has played a key role in India’s defence strategy, demonstrating the company’s expertise in supporting critical mission aircraft.

The C-390 Millennium is being promoted as a superior alternative for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, offering high-speed, precision, and unmatched reliability. The Brazilian aerospace major reiterated the aircraft’s rapid reconfiguration capabilities, allowing seamless transition between cargo, troop transport, medical evacuation, and aerial refuelling, operational efficiency, reducing fleet size requirements while maintaining high mission effectiveness, advanced communication systems, enhancing interoperability with allied forces, low lifecycle costs, thereby making it a cost-effective long-term investment for the Indian Air Force.

With over 16,000 flight hours logged and a mission availability rate of 93%, the C-390 has already been procured by Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary. India’s selection of the aircraft would not only enhance operational capabilities but also establish the country as a global supplier through localized production, said the President

A major highlight of Embraer’s strategy is its commitment to India’s Make in India initiative. The company has partnered with Mahindra Group to establish local manufacturing, assembly, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities. This initiative is expected to generate thousands of skilled jobs in India’s aerospace sector, reduce import dependence and increase local content production, facilitate technology transfer, strengthening India’s indigenous defence ecosystem and will enable India to become a global supplier of C-390 aircraft components.

Embraer is also in discussions with the Indian government to explore further investments and is all set to establish a new office in Delhi, which will oversee commercial, executive, defence, and service operations. This expansion is expected to bolster India-Brazil defence cooperation under initiatives like BRICS and South-South collaborations. Srivastava informed, “We are about to open our new office in Delhi. This office will be an entire Embraer office. We are going to have in this office commercial business, executive business, defence business, service and support business. We are targeting to inaugurate this office in the second quarter of 2025.”

Beyond defence, Embraer’s collaboration with Mahindra, expansion of local production, and investment in skilled workforce development highlight its long-term vision to support India’s self-reliance goals. As the Indian Air Force seeks next-generation solutions for its fleet modernization, Embraer’s C-390 Millennium emerges as a strong contender, bringing global expertise and local manufacturing benefits together.

The Chief Commercial Officer Federico Lemos reiterated that in the C-390 Millennium, the company is offering a modern, cost-effective, and battle-proven aircraft to meet India’s transport and logistical needs. With India’s growing focus on aerospace innovation, defence partnerships and Make in India, Embraer is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s aerospace future.

Embraer calls the C-390 an unbeatable combination because the aeroplane combines speed in the air with fast turnarounds. It is the real multi-mission platform. It means that every single plane is capable to shift roles from air to air refuelling to  cargo transport to medivac to para dropping with a very low life cycle cost. It has the capability to land in all terrains and just suits India’s need, the Brazilian aerospace major feels.