Brazilian aerospace company Embraer and the Mahindra Group announced plans on 19 February to set up Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft.
This facility is part of the broader strategic partnership between the two firms, following the anticipated selection of the C-390 for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme. The MRO services will cover base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections, component repair and overhaul, avionics support, and training.
Carlos Naufel said the collaboration aims to deepen ties with Indian aerospace companies, increase localisation of the C-390, and support ongoing MRO activities. This initiative builds on an October 2025 Strategic Cooperation Agreement that expanded a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2024.
The partnership seeks to make India a hub for both manufacturing and support of the C-390 Millennium, addressing domestic and regional needs while aligning with the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ goals.
Bosco da Costa Junior highlighted the commitment to providing a world-class aircraft along with a robust, long-term support ecosystem tailored to India’s operational and industrial requirements. Vinod Sahay added that the state-of-the-art MRO facility would ensure high aircraft availability, operational autonomy, and comprehensive local sustainment throughout the C-390’s lifecycle.
While primarily aimed at supporting the Indian Air Force fleet, Embraer is also exploring the possibility of India serving as a regional MRO hub for other operators of the C-390 Millennium, which can carry a 26-tonne payload and is already in service with air forces in 11 countries including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, and Sweden.
