As global partnerships evolve and dynamics shift, the longstanding ties between India and Brazil are strengthening — most recently through state visits and high-level dialogues and collaborations, including the recent BRICS Summit. Building on this legacy, Embraer sees opportunities to grow its commitment to India and contribute to meeting India’s evolving aerospace and defence needs, with a potential to assist India’s efforts towards achieving ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliance).

Currently, there are close to 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 aircraft types operating in the country, from defence to commercial aviation and business aviation, all supported by Embraer’s service & support network in the country.

Embraer’s latest aircraft, the C-390 Millennium multi-mission, medium-lift, military transport aircraft has been swiftly growing its global operator base and promises to be a versatile and effective asset to India’s defence needs – contributing to its modernisation goals and fulfilling operational requirements.

The C-390 Millennium flies faster (470 knots) and farther and can carry more payload (26 tonnes) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft.

THE PLATFORM OF PROVEN PERFORMANCE

The C-390 Millennium has redefined expectations in the medium transport segment. Countries such as Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and most recently Lithuania have selected the C-390 to modernise their air forces. With a payload capacity of 26 tonnes, high cruise speed, extended range, and the ability to operate on unpaved or temporary runways, the aircraft delivers unmatched flexibility.

Its modular architecture enables swift reconfiguration for a variety of missions — including cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, firefighting, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance. The KC-390 variant, with air-to-air refuelling capabilities for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, adds further operational value.

In service with the Brazilian Air Force since 2019 — and more recently with Portugal and Hungary — the C-390 has achieved a a mission capability rate of 93 per cent and mission completion rates above 99 per cent, underscoring its reliability, availability, and mission readiness.

INDIA: STRATEGIC FIT AND FORWARD THINKING

India’s diverse topography and security demands make operational flexibility a top priority. From the Himalayas to the Thar Desert, Indian forces require aircraft that can perform in hot, high, dry, or humid conditions. Embraer believes the C-390’s robust design and multi-mission capabilities are a natural fit for these challenges.

The C-390 Millennium was on display at Aero India 2025 and the strong interest it received underscored India’s growing appetite for versatile multi-mission platforms that can enhance and transform the country’s defence capabilities.

Beyond the aircraft and its capabilities, Embraer is committed to supporting India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Mahindra Defence Systems to evaluate the opportunity to jointly pursue the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme with the C-390 Millennium represents a strategic step.

A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF EXCELLENCE

Embraer will mark its 56th anniversary in August and its journey has been marked by resilience, innovation and a commitment to engineering excellence. In the last two decades, Embraer has designed, developed and entered into service more than 20 different aircraft types across defence, commercial aviation and business aviation. The company seeks to collaborate with like-minded partners, eager to take aerospace and defence capabilities to greater heights.

Embraer DNA of engineering excellence is reflected in the performance and reliability of its aircraft in the country. Moreover, the successful DRDO-Embraer collaboration on the Netra AEW&C aircraft based on the ERJ145 platform stands as proof of Embraer’s ability to partner with Indian institutions.

With a commitment to India and a desire to contribute to the country’s aerospace and defence ambitions, Embraer is poised to become a long-term partner in India’s defence journey.