Embraer Seeks to Localize C-390 Production in India

Brazilian aerospace company Embraer is stepping up its efforts in the competition for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program by offering its advanced C-390 airlifter.

According to Defence24, Embraer has not only proposed localizing the production of the C-390 in India, with significant involvement from domestic subcontractors, but has also put forward an offer to jointly develop an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft in collaboration with Indian partners.

India and Embraer already share a history of cooperation: the Indian Air Force currently operates three Netra Mk1 AEW&C aircraft, developed using the Embraer ERJ-145 platform integrated with an indigenous radar system.

The first of these aircraft entered service in 2017.

The Indian military has long planned to expand its fleet of such aircraft, with at least six additional Netra Mk1A units.

Previously, it was expected that the new version would also be based on the narrow-body ERJ-145 or a similar civilian model.

However, with the advancement of the C-390 Millennium platform, there is now an opportunity to develop a multi-role aircraft with significantly greater payload capacity and expanded capabilities.

This opens new possibilities not only for military transport operations but also for use in the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role.

Growth of the Indian Aerospace Industry

Recently, it was announced that Indian company Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) signed four agreements with French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation to transfer part of the Rafale fighter jet production to India.

For the first time, the fuselages of these combat aircraft will be manufactured outside France – at a new facility in the city of Hyderabad.

This marks a key step in advancing the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ strategy and the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative, both of which aim to localize production and strengthen the national defense sector.

The collaboration became possible after India officially confirmed in April 2025 the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine carrier-based fighter jets for its Navy.