New Delhi, February 2026 — Embraer and Mahindra Group have announced plans to work towards establishing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capability in India for the Embraer C-390 Millennium, subject to the aircraft’s selection in the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.

The announcement follows the signing of a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) in October 2025 between the two companies to produce the C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in India. The collaboration is intended to support the Indian Air Force’s MTA requirement while advancing local manufacturing in line with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Proposed In-Country MRO Capability

The proposed MRO facility would provide comprehensive in-country maintenance and sustainment services for a future C-390 fleet, with the objective of supporting high operational readiness and availability.

According to the companies, the capability would include base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections and testing, component repair and overhaul, avionics support, and training services. While the primary focus would be the Indian Air Force fleet, Embraer is also assessing the potential for India to serve as a regional MRO hub supporting other C-390 operators.

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, stated that Embraer’s approach includes not only aircraft delivery but also the development of a long-term support ecosystem aligned with India’s operational and industrial requirements.

Vinod Sahay, Member of the Group Executive Board at Mahindra Group, said that a domestic C-390 MRO capability would support aircraft availability, operational autonomy and lifecycle sustainment within India.

Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support, noted that the collaboration is intended to expand engagement with Indian aerospace companies to increase localisation of the C-390 programme and associated MRO activities, reinforcing the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ objectives.

C-390 Millennium Capability Overview

The C-390 Millennium is a medium-sized military transport aircraft with a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes. It is designed to perform a range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian support.

The aircraft can operate from temporary or unpaved runways and may be configured for air-to-air refuelling, both as a tanker and as a receiver. According to Embraer, the in-service fleet has demonstrated a mission completion rate above 99 per cent.

The C-390 has been selected by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania.

Embraer’s Presence in India

Embraer has operated in India for several decades, with nearly 50 aircraft across 11 types currently in service in commercial, defence and business aviation roles.

Within the defence segment, the Embraer ERJ 145 platform forms the basis of the Indian Air Force’s ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft. The Embraer Legacy 600 is operated by the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force for government and VIP transport.