Embraer opens New Delhi HQ and joins Mahindra to pitch C-390 Millennium to Indian Air Force
October 17, 2025
Brazilian aerospace major Embraer has deepened its commitment to India with the inauguration of a new corporate office in New Delhi and the signing of a landmark partnership with the Mahindra Group to advance the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
The twin announcements, made in the presence of senior Indian and Brazilian officials, including Brazil’s Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and India’s Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, mark a new phase in Embraer’s strategy to integrate into India’s fast-growing aerospace and defence ecosystem.
Embraer opens India headquarters in New Delhi
Embraer inaugurated its new India office at WorldMark 4 in Aerocity, New Delhi, which will serve as the headquarters of its fully owned Indian subsidiary. The opening of a local subsidiary had been hinted at earlier this year.
The facility will act as the nerve centre for Embraer’s operations across all divisions, including commercial aviation, defence, business jets, services and support, and urban air mobility.
“The opening of our New Delhi corporate office marks a bold new chapter for Embraer in India, a market central to our global vision,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, President & CEO of Embraer. “This office spans across all our business units and will strengthen collaboration with partners, customers and suppliers. We are committed to bringing world-class technology and innovation to support India’s aerospace growth, advance self-reliance and help realise its ambition of becoming a global aviation hub.”
The new office will anchor Embraer’s long-term plans to expand local capability in procurement, engineering, supply chain and customer support. The company, which first entered India in 2005 with its E-Jet family of aircraft, now has nearly 50 aircraft across 11 types operating with the Indian Air Force (IAF), government agencies and private operators such as Star Air.
Mahindra and Embraer join forces to promote the C-390 Millennium in India
Coinciding with the office inauguration, Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Group signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement to promote the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft for the IAF’s MTA requirement.
The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year in New Delhi and expands collaboration to include joint marketing, industrialisation and local manufacturing.
“The agreement is a significant milestone in our relationship with Mahindra Group,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “India’s aerospace industry is dynamic and world-class, and together we aim to deliver the most advanced and reliable military transport solution to the Indian Air Force. This partnership is more than an aerospace deal – it reflects our commitment to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the growing friendship between Brazil and India.”
Under the plan, Embraer and Mahindra will work with India’s defence ecosystem to establish local assembly and MRO facilities, supply-chain integration and potential exports. The goal is to develop India as a manufacturing and support hub for the C-390 Millennium, serving both domestic and regional customers.
C-390 Millennium positioned for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme
India’s MTA requirement is intended to replace ageing tactical workhorses such as the Antonov An-32 and Avro HS-748, and to modernise the airlift fleet with types in the 18–30-tonne payload class. The Ministry of Defence is expected to issue a tender soon for 60–80 aircraft, and several global manufacturers are already positioning their proposals.
Competing offerings present a mix of continuity, capability and cost trade-offs:
- Ilyushin IL-276 (Russia/HAL) – offers fleet commonality but faces financial and geopolitical challenges.
- Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules – proven reliability but limited local industrial participation.
- Airbus A400M Atlas – delivers a higher payload and advanced features, but at a significantly higher cost.
The C-390 Millennium is Embraer’s most advanced military transport aircraft, capable of carrying a 26-tonne payload, more than any other medium transport in its class, while flying faster (470 knots) and farther. It can operate from short or unpaved runways and perform diverse missions including cargo and troop transport, air-drops, medical evacuation, firefighting, search-and-rescue and humanitarian relief.
The aircraft is already in service with the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands, and has been ordered by Austria, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Lithuania and an undisclosed customer. India is now seen as the next major campaign for the type.
Vinod Sahay, Member of the Group Executive Board at Mahindra Group, said: “The C-390 Millennium is unmatched in capability, efficiency and versatility. By deepening our collaboration with Embraer, we will ensure that the aircraft for the IAF’s MTA campaign supports India’s security needs and the Make-in-India vision.”
Embraer expands defence, commercial and eVTOL footprint in India
Embraer’s expansion in India reflects a broad-based strategy spanning defence, civil and emerging technologies. Its ERJ 145 platform forms the base for the IAF’s ‘Netra’ airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, while Legacy 600 aircraft are used for VIP transport by the IAF and Border Security Force.
In commercial aviation, Star Air operates an all-Embraer fleet of E175s and ERJ 145s, enhancing connectivity across India’s tier-two and tier-three cities. Embraer is also promoting its latest E-Jets E2 family as an ideal fit for India’s regional market, citing superior fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.
The company’s future plans include a growing focus on urban air mobility. Eve Air Mobility, Embraer’s eVTOL and urban aviation subsidiary, is working with JetSetGo to deploy its Vector air traffic management software and with Hunch Mobility to explore commuter eVTOL operations in Bengaluru.
The presence of Brazil’s Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and Defence Minister José Múcio at the Aerocity events underscored the deepening strategic and industrial ties between the two nations. Embraer’s dual announcements signal both symbolic and operational momentum for bilateral aerospace collaboration.
“Our office inauguration here in New Delhi reflects our ambition for further growth in the country,” said Bosco da Costa Junior. “We are confident that our multi-mission C-390 Millennium is perfectly suited to bring additional capability to the Indian Air Force.”
