Mahindra-Embraer Ink Deal to Bring C-390 Millennium Military Aircraft to India

Mahindra Group and Brazil's Embraer Defense & Security announced on Friday a strategic partnership to bring the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft to India. The pact, formalised during the launch of Embraer's national headquarters in New Delhi, seeks to promote the C-390 Millennium platform for the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement. 

Embraer ranks among the world's premier aerospace producers with more than 9,000 aircraft delivered internationally, while Mahindra Group stands as one of India's largest business houses with operations across mobility, IT, finance, energy and agriculture sectors.

The collaboration will work with India's aerospace sector to discover possibilities for domestic manufacturing, assembly operations and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, establishing India as a prospective regional centre for the aircraft.

"The agreement is a significant milestone in our relationship with Mahindra Group. India's aerospace industry is dynamic and world-class, and together we aim to deliver the most advanced and reliable military transport solution to the Indian Air Force. This partnership is more than an aerospace deal - it reflects our commitment to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and the growing friendship between two major economies, Brazil and India," Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security, said in a statement, accoriding to ANI.

"The C-390 Millennium is unmatched in capability, efficiency, and versatility. By deepening our collaboration with Embraer, together we will ensure that the C-390 Millenium for the IAF's MTA campaign will not only contribute to India's security and aspirations but also supports the 'Make in India' philosophy and further self-reliance," said Vinod Sahay, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group.

Aircraft Capabilities and Global Deployment

The C-390 Millennium, capable of transporting a 26-tonne payload and achieving speeds up to 470 knots, is engineered for diverse operations including cargo and personnel transport, aerial refuelling, medical evacuation, firefighting and humanitarian missions. The platform is currently operational across multiple nations including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands and South Korea, maintaining a mission success rate exceeding 99 percent.

Strengthening India-Brazil Defence Cooperation

The alliance, expanding upon a memorandum of understanding (MoU) executed in February 2024, is an intensification of bilateral cooperation and strengthens India-Brazil defence relations.