Embraer joins Mahindra for IAF’s 60-aircraft transport aircraft bid

New Delhi: Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has joined hands with the Mahindra Group to offer its C-390 Millennium aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s planned 60-aircraft multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) programme. The company has said Mahindra will remain its partner for the military transport aircraft programme in India.

Embraer is offering the C-390 as a replacement for the IAF’s ageing An-32 transport aircraft. It is also pitching the aircraft as a platform that could help the IAF standardize its medium transport fleet.

In an interaction with ANI, Embraer defence & security president and CEO, Bosco Da Costa Junior, said the company had studied the Indian market before choosing Mahindra as its partner for the MTA programme. He also clarified that Embraer’s partnership with the Adani Group is for its civilian aircraft business and is separate from the military deal.

“We chose the Mahindra Group to be our partner for MTA,” Da Costa said, adding that this would not change. He said Adani would continue to be Embraer’s partner for its civilian aircraft business, including efforts to meet growing demand for regional connectivity and flights.

The MTA programme aims to acquire 60 aircraft to start replacing the IAF’s ageing transport fleet, with an option to add another 50 per cent. Embraer is offering the twin-engine C-390 Millennium, which is already being used by Brazil, Portugal and other air forces.

Embraer said it is working to meet the IAF’s timeline as the force wants to increase the availability of its transport fleet. Da Costa said the C-390 can carry more and fly faster and higher than the C-130J, while also claiming high aircraft availability and mission performance.

According to Da Costa, the C-390 currently has 93 per cent availability and 99 per cent mission accomplishment across its global fleet. He also said one customer operating more than four aircraft recorded 100 per cent availability last month.

The company has also highlighted the aircraft’s ability to operate from difficult airfields. Da Costa said the C-390 recently demonstrated operations from unpaved desert runways during a week-long trial with the UAE Air Force.

Five Indian companies, including Mahindra, Tata, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Reliance Defence and Adani, have received the defence ministry’s request for proposal for the IAF programme. The Tata-Lockheed Martin team is offering the C-130J for the requirement.

Embraer also wants to expand its presence in India through the C-390 programme. Da Costa said the company wants to use India as a hub for its global supply chain and maintenance, repair and overhaul network as its aircraft fleet continues to grow.

Embraer has around 70 C-390 aircraft in its global order book, including orders for 10 aircraft from the UAE and two from Colombia. The company said expanding its Indian supply chain and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) network would help support its growing international fleet.