Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and Indian private sector entity Mahindra Group have announced plans to work towards setting up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft if the platform gets selected for the Indian Air Force's (IAF’s) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. 

The proposed MRO facility will provide “comprehensive in‑country maintenance and sustainment for the C‑390 fleet, supporting high levels of operational readiness and availability,” Embraer announced on Thursday, Feb. 19.

The initiative reinforces both companies’ joint commitment to positioning the C‑390 Millennium “as a strong solution for India’s future medium transport aircraft requirements,” the company stated in an official release.

In October 2025, Embraer and Mahindra Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement to produce the C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in India, with an intent to support the IAF’s MTA programme, with plans to establish local manufacturing, strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative.

The Indian Government has issued an RFI in 2022 to procure Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Indian Air Force to replace its ageing fleet of An-32 and Ilyushin IL-76 transporters.  

“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,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

“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,” said Vinod Sahay, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group.

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.

While the primary objective of the MRO is to support the IAF 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.

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 IAF’s ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft, while the Legacy 600 is operated by the IAF and the Border Security Force (BSF) for the transportation of government officials and VIPs, the Brazilian aerospace entity said.