Brazil’s Embraer Defense & Security and India’s Mahindra Group have signed a landmark strategic cooperation agreement (SCA) to advance Embraer’s C-390 Millennium airlifter as a solution for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
The agreement was signed on 17 October alongside the inauguration of an Embraer office in Aerocity, New Delhi.
The SCA builds upon a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2024 at the Brazilian Embassy in New Delhi that deepened the two countries’ co-operation to include joint marketing, industrialisation and developing India as a hub for the C-390 Millennium. It also supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to promote economic self-sufficiency in India.
Under the SCA Embraer and Mahindra Group will work closely with stakeholders in the country and engage with India’s military and aerospace ecosystem to identify opportunities for local manufacturing, assembly facilities, supply chain engagement and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. The long-term ambition is to position India as a manufacturing and support hub for the C-390 Millennium aircraft, serving both domestic and regional requirements, should the aircraft be selected for the MTA programme.
Speaking at the SCA signing ceremony, Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, stated, “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 Brazil and India.”
Vinod Sahay, a member of Mahindra Group’s executive board, added, “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.”
