Mahindra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Embraer Defense & Security on Friday, February 9, for the acquisition of C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft by the Indian Air Force (IAF). This deal has been inked as part of the IAF’s upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project.
Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Defence Systems, Mahindra's wholly owned subsidiary, will engage with the Indian Air Force to identify the next steps of the MTA programme, as well as contact the local aerospace industry in India to start developing the manufacturing plan for the project.
The MoU was signed at the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi. The two companies will look to bring the latest technology in terms of aerospace and military transport aircraft to India.
The C-390 can carry more payload in comparison to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies at a speed of 870 km/h (470 knots). The aircraft is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, aerial firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil, and gravel.
The aircraft is also configured with air-to-air refueling equipment and has aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and a receiver.
Underscoring the India-Brazil ties, Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security, said, “India is a key market for Embraer and we fully support India’s ambitions for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. We see this partnership as a symbol of strengthening relations between Brazil and India and a way to foster Global South cooperation.”
Vinod Sahay, President, Aerospace and Defence Sector and Member of Group Executive Board, Mahindra who reckons that the C-390 Millennium is the most advanced military airlifter in the defence market said, “We believe that this partnership will not only bolster the operational prowess of the Indian Air Force, but also provide an efficient industrialisation solution that aligns seamlessly with the objectives of Make in India.”
The C-390 is known for its mobility in combination with high productivity and operating flexibility with low operating costs.
The aircraft has been a part of the Brazilian Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force since 2019 and 2023. The aircraft’s current fleet has accumulated more than 11,500 flight hours, with operational availability of around 80% and mission completion rates of above 99%, as per a release by Mahindra.
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