In a significant development for Bharat’s defense sector, Brazilian company Embraer Defense and Security and the Mahindra Group have joined forces to work on the C-390 Millennium aircraft. This collaboration comes in response to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirement for new medium transport aircraft (MTA). The potential order from the IAF, ranging from 40 to 80 MTAs, is expected to involve technology transfer and the establishment of a manufacturing line within India to enhance indigenous production.
Bosco da Costa Junior, CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, expressed his honor in announcing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mahindra. He highlighted Bharat’s robust defense and aerospace industry, citing Mahindra as the chosen partner to pursue the MTA program. Junior emphasized Embraer’s support for Bharat’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and envisioned the partnership as a means to strengthen bilateral relations between Brazil and India while fostering cooperation among countries in the Global South.
Competing with offerings from US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin and European Airbus Defence and Space, the C-390 Millennium is positioned as a cutting-edge option for the IAF’s requirements. Alongside Lockheed Martin’s C-130J and Airbus’s A-400M aircraft, Embraer and Mahindra aim to meet the IAF’s demand for a transport aircraft with a cargo capacity ranging from 18 to 30 tonnes.
Embraer and Mahindra plan to engage with the IAF to delineate the next steps of the MTA program. They also intend to collaborate with Bharat’s local aerospace industry to kickstart the industrialization plan for the project. Vinod Sahay, President of Mahindra’s aerospace and defense business, hailed the C-390 Millennium as the most advanced military airlifter in the market and underscored the partnership’s potential to enhance the IAF’s operational capabilities and support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
With an eye towards the future, both Embraer and Mahindra are exploring the possibility of establishing Bharat as a hub for the C-390 aircraft in the region. This move aligns with India’s aspirations to bolster its aerospace manufacturing capabilities and become a key player in the global defense industry.
Currently, the IAF operates 12 C-130J aircraft, and efforts are underway to modernize its transport fleet further. Airbus, in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited, is working on a project worth ₹21,935 crore to equip the air force with 56 C-295 aircraft. Additionally, Embraer has supplied eight jets to Bharat for VVIP travel and airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Last year, the IAF sought information from original equipment manufacturers regarding technology transfer, indigenization methods, and the establishment of manufacturing lines in Bharat. This underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing indigenous production and positioning India as a regional or global hub for manufacturing and maintenance in the defense sector.
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