Brazilian firm Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra announced on February 9 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for potential manufacturing of C390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft to fulfil the requirements of the Indian Air Force’s MTA project.
Last year, the Indian Air Force issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of 40 to 80 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) as part of the Make in India initiative.
To fulfil the IAF’s requirements, foreign vendors should collaborate with Indian companies to manufacture these aircraft under a joint venture. Therefore, the Brazilian firm has joined hands with Mahindra to meet the requirements.
“We are honoured to announce this MoU with Mahindra. India has a diverse and strong defence and aerospace industry and we have chosen Mahindra as our partner to jointly pursue the MTA programme”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, president & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security.
Embraer and Mahindra 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 industrialisation plan for the project.
US Lockheed Martin’s C130J, Spanish Airbus A400M, and Brazilian Embraer C390 aircraft have emerged as top contenders for the MTA project.
While 12 C130J Super Hercules are already in service with the IAF, the American firm is looking to secure this massive purchase deal.
Airbus is also executing the deal for 56 C295 aircraft with the IAF, with the first aircraft already delivered last year. The firm is constructing a manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, under a joint venture with Tata to locally manufacture 40 out of the 56 C295 aircraft.
Now, the company aims to secure another multi-billion dollar deal from the IAF by offering the A400M aircraft.
As the competition escalates among the three major firms, Embraer has strategically partnered with Mahindra to present their C390 Millennium aircraft offering for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft project. This collaboration underscores their commitment to meeting the project’s requirements and underscores the significance of cooperation in the aerospace industry.
