Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of jointly positioning the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft as the preferred candidate to win the next Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project of the Indian Air Force. The MoU was signed at the Brazilian Embassy in New Delhi.
“We are honored to announce this MoU with Mahindra . India has a diverse and strong defense and aerospace industry and we have chosen Mahindra as our partner to jointly pursue the MTA program” said Mr Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security. “India is a key market for Embraer and we fully support India’s ambitions for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. We see this partnership as a symbol of strengthening relations between Brazil and India and a way to foster Global South cooperation.”
Embraer and Mahindra will engage with the Indian Air Force to identify the next steps of the MTA program, as well as reach out to the local aerospace industry in India to begin developing the industrialization plan for the project.
Mr Vinod Sahay, President Aerospace & Defence Sector and Member of Group Executive Board, Mahindra said, “We are proud to start this partnership with Embraer, a company that is known for its engineering excellence and a unique portfolio of aircraft and systems. The C-390 Millennium is the most advanced military airlifter in the market, and we believe that this partnership will not only bolster the operational prowess of the Indian Air Force, but also provide an efficient industrialization solution that aligns seamlessly with the objectives of Make in India.”
Embraer has an established presence in India in the fields of defense, commercial aviation and business aviation. In August 2023, Embraer held the C-390 Millennium Day in New Delhi, India, to deepen engagement with the local aerospace industry, which was well attended by the Indian Defense ecosystem.
Both Embraer and Mahindra will explore the possibilities of making India a future production hub for the C-390 aircraft for other potential customers in the region.
See also: Hungarian Air Force’s first C-390 Millennium is already flying
“Contract of the Century” for military transportation
With the MTA (Medium Transport Aircraft) the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to acquire 40 to 80 transport aircraft to replace about 100 aging An-32s, and possibly Il-76s as well.
The RFI establishes the following requirements:
- Cargo capacity between 18 and 30 tons
- Approximate order of magnitude cost of “aircraft and associated equipment” for a batch of 40, 60 and 80 aircraft, including spare parts, training, etc.
- First deliveries within 36 months of signing the contract
- Percentage of manufacturing in India – “Make in India”.
Embraer is competing against the Airbus A400M and Lockheed Martin C-130J to win this “contract of the century” in military transport aviation. Because of the potential number of units involved, it will represent an enormously juicy win, and will also guarantee workload for decades for the winning company.
