Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer has selected the Mahindra Group as its Indian partner for the Indian Air Force’s planned acquisition of 60 multi-role transport aircraft, intensifying competition for one of the country’s most significant military aviation programmes.
The company will offer its KC-390 Millennium, also known as the C-390, against rival proposals for the replacement of the IAF’s ageing medium-transport fleet. Embraer Defence & Security President and Chief Executive Officer Bosco Da Costa Junior said the partnership followed a detailed assessment of India’s aerospace industry and potential local partners.
Embraer demonstrated the C-390 in India in 2023. Following that exercise, the Brazilian company evaluated the country’s industrial ecosystem before choosing Mahindra for the military programme. Da Costa Junior said Mahindra would remain Embraer’s partner on the defence side, while Adani Group would work with the company in the civilian aviation business.
The IAF programme is intended primarily to replace the service’s ageing Antonov An-32 aircraft and modernise its medium-airlift capability. The proposed purchase covers 60 aircraft, with an option to increase the order by 50 per cent. The requirement is expected to support troop movement, logistics, humanitarian assistance and operations from challenging airfields.
Five Indian companies have received the Ministry of Defence’s request for proposal: Mahindra, Tata, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Reliance Defence and Adani. Tata is working with Lockheed Martin on a rival offer centred on the C-130J Super Hercules. The competition is therefore likely to assess not only aircraft performance but also domestic manufacturing, maintenance, technology transfer and long-term availability.
Embraer is presenting the KC-390 as a larger and faster alternative to the C-130J. Da Costa Junior said the aircraft can carry more cargo and fly faster and at higher altitudes. He cited a global availability rate of 93 per cent and a mission-success rate of 99 per cent, while claiming that one operator achieved 100 per cent availability last month. Those figures are company assertions and will be examined during the procurement process.
The KC-390 has also been tested on unpaved desert runways, including during a recent week-long trial with the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Embraer says the aircraft has attracted approximately 70 orders worldwide, including recent commitments from the UAE and Colombia.
A central part of Embraer’s Indian pitch is the development of a local supply-chain and maintenance, repair and overhaul network. The company wants India to become a regional support hub for the C-390, serving both domestic and international operators. Such an arrangement could create skilled employment, involve Indian aerospace suppliers and strengthen the aircraft’s case under the government’s self-reliance priorities.
The defence partnership with Mahindra is separate from Embraer’s civilian cooperation with Adani. In January, Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. Their plans include aircraft manufacturing, supply-chain development, aftermarket services, maintenance and pilot training, aligned with the country’s regional-connectivity programme.
For Embraer, the IAF tender offers more than a single aircraft sale. Winning would establish a deeper industrial presence in India and potentially provide a launch customer for a broader support network. For the IAF, the decision will hinge on how effectively each bidder combines operational capability with affordability, timely delivery and credible domestic sustainment.
The final selection is expected to be closely watched as India seeks to strengthen airlift capacity while expanding its private aerospace and defence manufacturing base.
