Embraer offers Super Tucano to India for border policing

The Brazilian firm is promoting its A-29 Super Tucano as an ideal platform for India’s Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Border Security Force to patrol the country’s heated borders.

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Caetano Neto, Embraer’s executive director of Defense and Security for Asia, Pacific and Africa, in an interview with financial portal Mint, reported that Embraer is not only promoting the A-29 Super Tucano to the Indian Armed and Security Forces for light attack and border policing roles, but that an aircraft assembly line is also being considered for installation in the country.

«In addition to boosting the country’s local manufacturing, Embraer can also help India become a critical supplier in the global supply chain through its significant offering in aerospace units,» said the head of Embraer’s military products division for the region.

«India is a key market for us and we are keen to establish local partnerships in the country that can further boost India’s defense industries and capabilities,» Neto said in response to a question about Embraer’s willingness to transfer technology to Indian partners.

Embraer is reportedly in talks with a variety of Indian companies for possible partnerships to enable local manufacturing of components for aircraft the firm expects to sell in India, as well as for global markets.

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«We see India not as a customer, but as a promising business partner,» Neto added.

Embraer is already a recognized Defense supplier in India from the Legacy 600 aircraft used by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transport senior government officials and VIPs. In addition, the Brazilian company has contributed to the development of the Indian NETRA airborne AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) radar system, installed on board ERJ-145s. The company is also promoting its C-390 Millennium multirole military transport aircraft for the IAF.