Brazil's Embraer proposes production of C-390 military transport aircraft in India

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Brazil's aerospace major Embraer views the establishment of C-390 production in India as an opportunity, keeping in view the Indian Air Force's efforts to modernise its transport fleet. Embraer Defence and Security CEO Bosco da Costa Junior stated on Friday that these locally manufactured aircraft could satisfy the requirements of the broader Asian market, where demand for this class of aircraft could reach 500 in the next 20 years.

This Brazilian aerospace company is presenting the C-390 as a contender for the Indian Air Force's medium transport aircraft programme. Aiming for a contract worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore for 60 aircraft, Embraer and Mahindra Group are jointly bidding for the Indian Air Force's medium transport aircraft programme.

In an interview, Costa Junior said, "We believe we have the right platform and we view India as a strategic partner. We have not come here merely to sell 60 aircraft and return to Brazil. Embraer sees India as a production and export hub for the C-390 because 40 to 45 per cent of the potential market for this class of aircraft is located right here in Asia. This creates a demand for approximately 500 aircraft over the next 20 years."

These statements come three months after the government commenced the procurement of 60 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force, inviting bids from five Indian companies: Mahindra Group, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Adani Defence and Aerospace, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and Reliance Defence. According to people familiar with the matter, the deadline for submitting bids is 13 January. The MTA competition is consistent with the government's Make in India initiative to promote self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. The winning company will have to establish a production line for the aircraft in India.

The first 12 aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remaining aircraft will be manufactured in India. Sources stated that under the MTA framework, aircraft made in India must have 40 per cent indigenous content and this contract must be implemented within 11 years.

If they secure the contract from the Indian Air Force, Embraer and Mahindra are considering establishing the first C-390 final assembly line in Nagpur, outside Brazil. Costa Junior said, "We are keen to create a complete C-390 ecosystem in Nagpur, which includes state-of-the-art hangars, highly automated aircraft assembly lines, MRO i.e. maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, local production of aircraft structures, avionics, components and spare parts, system integration and development of the supply chain."

The C-390 Millennium is a multi-mission military transport aircraft designed to handle various roles including soldier and cargo transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions. It has a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes and is capable of operating from even temporary or unpaved runways.

The Indian Air Force is seeking new transport aircraft with a cargo carrying capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes to meet its growing airlift requirements. Brazil had renewed its pressure for the C-390 under the MTA programme alongside the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi.

Tata Advanced Systems has partnered with US firm Lockheed Martin, which has offered its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for the MTA competition. The other three companies have not yet announced their partnerships for this project.

The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of 12 C-130J medium-sized airlifters, which have been extensively used for various missions, including supporting the military's forward deployment in the Ladakh sector during the 2020-24 India-China military conflict at the actual Line of Control in Eastern Ladakh.

Following the C295 programme, the MTA being manufactured in India by a private consortium is set to be the next military aircraft. A contract worth ₹21,935 crore is being jointly implemented by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems to equip the Indian Air Force with 56 C-295 aircraft.