By Kamal Shah
India’s Mahindra group has linked up with Embraer as the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer plans to powerfully market the C-390 Millennium airlifter and target the Indian Air Force as a potential buyer.
A memorandum to that effect was recently signed and the C-390 will be a strong contender for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program.
The C-390 is capable of operating in different environments, including short and unpaved runways, making it a versatile aircraft for both military and civilian applications.
It also offers advanced capabilities in terms of performance, payload capacity, and versatility. Its rugged design enables it to operate in different conditions, including hot and high-altitude environments, and its advanced avionics and systems provide enhanced situational awareness and mission efficiency.
The Indian Defence Ministry had in early 2033 sought data on options in the 18-30 tons of cargo category.
The ageing IAF fleet of Antonov An-32s anvil-76s would need to be replaced and this addition would operate with the current fleet the Boeing C-17, Lockheed C-130J Hercules and recently ordered Airbus C295s.
This combine makes for a very strategic move and should be able to take positive advantage of the Make in India initiative especially if the airlifter can be assembled in India.
Embraer and Mahindra state they will jointly “engage with the [IAF] to identify the next steps of the MTA program” and begin discussing with the Indian aerospace industry how the project could be industrialized locally.
A senior executive at Embraer explained the significance of the link-up and was widely quoted.
“India has a diverse and strong defense and aerospace industry, and we have chosen Mahindra as our partner to jointly pursue the MTA program,” said Bosco da Costa Júnior, the president and chief executive of Embraer’s Defense and Security business. We see this partnership as a symbol of strengthening relations between Brazil and India and a way to foster Global South cooperation,”
A head start for Embraer might well have been won when in August 2023 a Millennium Day was held and the top brass in the IAF given a demo of the C-390.
The aircraft’s advanced avionics and fly-by-wire flight controls contribute to its excellent maneuverability and handling characteristics, allowing it to operate in challenging airspace and land on short or austere runways. Its ability to perform tactical airlift missions and airdrop operations makes it a valuable asset for military forces requiring rapid and flexible deployment of personnel and supplies.
It is a tough field though.
Lockheed Martin is pretty much in the reckoning what with its functional Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd entity. Airbus and its nexus with Tata Advanced Systems, ready to build the C295 in India in a time when Indo-French military ties are top priority will also be a favorite.
