By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and Indian multi-sector Mahindra Group on February 19, 2026, announced a joint plan to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capability in India for the C-290 Millennium.

But the MRO collaboration was contingent on the former winning the upcoming Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) tender, Embraer and Mahindra said in a statement.

The two companies entered into strategic partnership in October 2025 to produce the C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in India.

This collaboration aimed to support the IAF’s MTA procurement, with plans to establish local manufacturing, strengthening the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The C‑390 Millennium is a modern military transport aircraft, offering a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and the two companies claimed it had “higher” speed and range compared to other medium‑sized military transport aircraft.

The aircraft is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions.

The C-390 can operate from temporary or unpaved runways and may be configured for air‑to‑air refuelling, both as a tanker and as a receiver.

The in‑service fleet has demonstrated a mission completion rate above 99 percent, highlighting its productivity and reliability, the companies claimed.

The proposed MRO facility would provide comprehensive in‑country maintenance and sustainment for the C‑390 fleet, supporting high levels of operational readiness and availability.

The initiative reinforces the companies’ joint commitment to positioning the C‑390 Millennium as a strong solution for India’s future medium transport aircraft requirements.

“Embraer is committed to delivering not only a world‑class aircraft, but also a robust, long‑term support ecosystem tailored to India’s operational and industrial requirements,” Embraer Defense & Security president and CEO Bosco da Costa Junior said.

“A state‑of‑the‑art C‑390 Millennium MRO capability in India would ensure high aircraft availability, enhanced operational autonomy and a comprehensive local sustainment solution for the Indian Air Force throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle,” Mahindra Group Executive Board member Vinod Sahay said.

The proposed MRO capability is expected to deliver a full spectrum of services, including base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections and testing, component repair and overhaul, avionics support, and training.

“Embraer and Mahindra, intends to expand collaboration with Indian aerospace companies to drive higher localisation of C-390 Millenium and also to support MRO activities, reinforcing our commitment to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” Embraer Services and Support president and CEO Carlos Naufel said.

“In addition to fleet support, this new facility could create high‑skill employment and further contribute to the integration of Indian companies into Embraer’s global supply chain,” Naufel added.

While the primary objective of the MRO is to support the Indian Air Force fleet, Embraer is also evaluating the potential for India to serve as a regional MRO hub, providing sustainment services for other C-390 Millennium operators in the future.

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

Embraer has a longstanding presence in India, with nearly 50 aircraft across 11 different types currently in operation in the country in commercial, defence, and business aviation roles.

In the defence segment, the ERJ145 platform serves as the basis for the Indian Air Force’s ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft. The Legacy 600 is operated by the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force (BSF) for the transportation of government officials and VIPs.

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