Embraer, Mahindra plan C-390 MRO facility in India to boost bid for IAF transport aircraft deal
New Delhi, February 19. Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and the Mahindra Group have announced plans to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, contingent on the aircraft’s selection under the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
The proposed facility is aimed at providing comprehensive in-country maintenance and sustainment support for the C-390 fleet, enhancing operational readiness and availability if the aircraft is inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The announcement, made on February 19, builds on a strategic partnership signed by the two companies in October 2025 to manufacture the C-390 Millennium in India under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The C-390 Millennium is positioned as one of the most modern aircraft in the medium transport category, with a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes and higher speed and range compared to similar platforms. Designed as a multi-mission aircraft, it can undertake troop and cargo transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions. It is also capable of operating from semi-prepared or unpaved runways and can be configured for air-to-air refuelling roles, both as a tanker and as a receiver. According to the company, the in-service fleet has recorded a mission completion rate exceeding 99 per cent.
The planned MRO facility would offer a full range of services, including heavy and base maintenance, structural inspections and testing, avionics support, component repair and overhaul, as well as training. Beyond supporting the IAF fleet, Embraer is exploring the possibility of positioning India as a regional MRO hub to service other global C-390 operators.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defence & Security, said the company aims to provide not just the aircraft but a long-term support ecosystem tailored to India’s operational and industrial needs.
Vinod Sahay, Member of the Group Executive Board at Mahindra Group, said a domestic MRO capability would enhance aircraft availability and operational autonomy for the IAF throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle.
Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support, said the collaboration would seek deeper engagement with Indian aerospace firms to increase localisation and integrate Indian companies into Embraer’s global supply chain. The initiative is also expected to generate high-skilled employment in the country.
The C-390 Millennium has already been selected by several air forces, including those of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania.
Embraer maintains a significant footprint in India, with nearly 50 aircraft across commercial, defence and business aviation segments currently operating in the country. In the defence space, the ERJ145 platform serves as the base for the IAF’s ‘Netra’ airborne early warning and control aircraft, while the Legacy 600 is used by the IAF and the Border Security Force for VIP transport.
The proposed MRO facility strengthens Embraer and Mahindra’s pitch for the IAF’s MTA requirement, positioning the C-390 as not only a transport solution but a long-term industrial partnership for India.
