By Brazil Stock Guide – Embraer (NYSE: EMBJ / B3: EMBJ3) and Mahindra Group said they plan to establish a dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the C-390 Millennium, should the aircraft be selected under the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program of the Indian Air Force. The announcement marks a further step in the companies’ localization strategy following a Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed in October 2025 to potentially manufacture the aircraft in India.
The proposed facility would provide full in-country lifecycle support for the C-390 fleet, including line and heavy maintenance, structural inspections and testing, component overhaul, avionics support and training. The move aligns with India’s “Make in India” industrial policy and the government’s broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) strategy aimed at strengthening domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.
Embraer said the initiative is designed to deliver not only a modern tactical airlifter but also a long-term industrial ecosystem tailored to India’s operational and strategic requirements. Mahindra added that a domestic MRO structure would enhance aircraft availability, operational autonomy and cost efficiency throughout the platform’s lifecycle.
The C-390 Millennium, capable of carrying up to 26 metric tons, competes in the medium transport segment traditionally dominated by legacy platforms such as the C-130. Embraer says the aircraft offers higher speed and longer range than peers, and that its global fleet has demonstrated mission completion rates above 99%. The model has already been selected by Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania.
Beyond supporting a potential Indian fleet, Embraer is also evaluating the country as a future regional MRO hub for other C-390 operators in Asia. India, with an expanding defense budget and growing aerospace ambitions, has become central to the Brazilian manufacturer’s global diversification strategy.
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