Embraer has expanded its footprint in India with the inauguration of a new corporate office in New Delhi and the signing of a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Mahindra Group to promote the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program.
The opening ceremony at WorldMark 4, Aerocity, was attended by Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Defense Minister Jose Mucio, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and the Brazilian Ambassador to India Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega. The new office, a fully owned subsidiary of Embraer, will act as the company’s central hub in India, covering commercial aviation, defense, business aviation, services, and urban air mobility.
Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said, “The opening of our New Delhi corporate office marks a bold new chapter for Embraer in India – a market central to our global vision. This office spans across all our business units and will strengthen collaboration with partners, customers, and suppliers.”
Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, added, “Our office inauguration here in New Delhi reflects our ambition for further growth in the country. We are confident that our multi-mission medium transport aircraft, the C-390 Millennium, is perfectly suited to bring additional capabilities to the Indian Air Force.”
Partnership with Mahindra GroupCoinciding with the office inauguration, Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Group formalized a cooperation agreement to advance the C-390 Millennium in India. The partnership aims to develop India as a regional manufacturing, assembly, and support hub for the platform, building on a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2024.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work with Indian stakeholders to explore local production, supply chain development, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities.
Bosco da Costa Junior said, “This agreement is a significant milestone in our relationship with Mahindra Group. Together we aim to deliver the most advanced and reliable military transport solution to the Indian Air Force. This partnership reflects our commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat and the growing friendship between Brazil and India.”
Vinod Sahay, Member of Mahindra Group’s Executive Board, commented, “By deepening our collaboration with Embraer, we will ensure that the C-390 Millennium for the IAF’s MTA campaign supports India’s security and the Make in India philosophy.”
Broader Engagement in IndiaEmbraer’s involvement in India spans two decades, with around 50 aircraft in operation across military, government, and commercial sectors. The Indian Air Force operates Embraer’s ERJ145-based ‘Netra’ AEW&C platform, while Star Air uses E175 and ERJ145 jets for regional connectivity.
In urban air mobility, Embraer’s subsidiary Eve Air Mobility is partnering with JetSetGo and Hunch Mobility to develop electric commuter flight operations and traffic management systems for Indian cities, including a potential eVTOL hub in Bangalore.
C-390 MillenniumThe C-390 Millennium, already in service with air forces in Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, and others, is designed for cargo and troop transport, airdrops, medical evacuation, and firefighting. It can carry up to 26 tons, operate from unpaved runways, and perform air-to-air refueling missions.
The platform is being promoted as a solution aligned with India’s defense modernization and self-reliance initiatives, while strengthening industrial and technological ties between India and Brazil.