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Embraer Eyes India's Aviation Boom with Defence & Regional Jet Push

Brazilian aerospace leader Embraer is aggressively expanding its footprint in India, targeting both defence and civil aviation sectors through strategic partnerships. The company has signed an MoU with the Mahindra Group to localise production of the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft and establish MRO capabilities. In civil aviation, it is partnering with Adani Defence & Aerospace to build an ecosystem for regional transport aircraft, aiming to improve connectivity to smaller cities with its E-Jets. CEO Francisco Gomes Neto expressed strong optimism about India's growth potential, highlighting ongoing talks with airlines and the government to create local assembly lines and generate thousands of jobs.

Key Points: Embraer Scales Up India Presence in Defence & Civil Aviation

  • Defence push with Mahindra for C-390 localisation
  • Civil aviation MoU with Adani for regional jets
  • Focus on Tier 2/3 city connectivity via UDAN
  • Plans for local assembly and MRO facilities
  • Exploring eVTOL potential for urban mobility
4 min read

"We are focusing on defence, civil aviation": CEO Francisco Gomes Neto as Embraer looks to scale up India presence

Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto outlines plans for local manufacturing, MRO, and regional jets in India's fast-growing aviation & defence markets.

"I'm very excited about the opportunities we have here... I really believe we have the right package and the right approach for India. - Francisco Gomes Neto"

By Snehal Satghare, New Delhi, February 20

Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer is intensifying its push into the fast-growing Indian aviation market, emphasising partnerships, local manufacturing and enhanced regional connectivity.

In an interview with ANI, Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto expressed strong optimism about opportunities in both the civil and defence sectors, highlighting India's position as the world's third-largest aviation market with significant growth potential.

Neto underscored the strategic alignment between Brazil and India as fellow Global South nations facing similar social challenges. "I'm very excited about the opportunities we have here, not only because of the size of the market but because I really believe we have the right package and the right approach for India," he said.

This includes Embraer's products alongside initiatives to develop India's aerospace industry, fostering qualified jobs and benefiting millions through technology and industrial collaboration.

The aerospace sector, Neto noted, offers a prime avenue for government-to-government cooperation. India's expertise in technology and space complements Embraer's aviation strengths, making this "the perfect moment" for deeper ties.

On the defence front, Embraer is advancing with the Mahindra Group. The companies signed an MoU to localise C-390 Millennium production in India, with recent announcements focusing on establishing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities to support assembly and operations.

In civil aviation, Embraer has partnered with Adani Defence & Aerospace via an MoU to build a regional transport aircraft ecosystem. The focus is on improving connectivity to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities using Embraer's proven E-Jets, which have succeeded in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. "We believe there's the same opportunity in India, even more so because of its larger population and faster growth," Neto explained.

The company aims to establish final assembly, source parts locally, and provide MRO support in India, mirroring its defence approach. Manufacturing would commence upon securing orders from airlines, as Embraer avoids production without firm commitments. Currently, Embraer is engaging with airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and Vistar, and conducting route studies to demonstrate profitability, particularly under the government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme.

Neto described defence pursuits as more structured, with ongoing discussions with the Indian Air Force spanning years and clear requests for proposals. Civil aviation efforts are building a similar foundation through partnerships and government dialogue, though timelines remain fluid.

"We are in touch with many airlines. We need all of them to engage in this program," he said, to create sizeable demand for local assembly, MRO and related initiatives. Such expansion would generate thousands of jobs across airlines, assembly and operations, benefiting India broadly.

Embraer also sees potential in its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft for urban mobility in congested cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi.

India's aviation boom aligns with government priorities, including the 2026 budget's emphasis on civilian aerospace development. Embraer's E-Jets have a proven track record with nearly 1,900 delivered globally and strong adoption in Europe, Asia, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Egypt. The company offers MRO services, pilot training and academic support as part of its ecosystem.

Embraer already has a foothold in India with nearly 50 aircraft operating across commercial, including Star Air, defence, government VIP transport, business jets, and other segments spanning 11 types and a 20-year heritage with E-Jets. "We are proud of the 50 aircraft flying in India. But 50 aircraft in a country like this is too small a number. We want to see hundreds here," Neto stated.

He praised the UDAN scheme as a "great initiative" and confirmed Embraer's efforts to adapt its jets for regional operations. Neto's visit aligns with broader India-Brazil relations, including President Lula's upcoming engagements where aerospace could serve as a central pillar for economic collaboration, technology transfer and high-skilled job creation.

With a record firm order backlog of USD 31.6 billion at the end of 2025 (potentially reaching USD 50 billion including options), Embraer seeks to expand production capacity beyond Brazil. India represents a key opportunity to meet rising demand while supporting local industry growth under 'Make in India'.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently to smaller cities for work, better regional connectivity can't come soon enough. The UDAN scheme is good, but we need reliable, modern aircraft. Embraer's E-Jets have a proven record. If they can make it cost-effective for airlines, it will be a game-changer for business travel and tourism in India.
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Vikram M
The defence collaboration with Mahindra on the C-390 is crucial. We need to reduce dependency on single sources for military transport. Strategic partnerships with countries like Brazil in the Global South make sense. However, I hope the technology transfer is genuine and leads to indigenous design capabilities in the long run, not just screwdriver assembly.
P
Priya S
Excited about the eVTOL mention for urban mobility! Bangalore and Mumbai traffic is a nightmare. If they can make air taxis a reality and affordable, it would revolutionize daily commutes. But my question is about infrastructure – do our cities have the vertiports and air traffic management for this? Hope planning starts now alongside the aircraft development.
R
Rohit P
Good move, but a word of caution. We've seen many MoUs that don't translate to actual production on the ground. The condition of "manufacturing only upon securing orders" is smart for Embraer but puts the onus on our airlines. Will they commit? The regional market is price-sensitive. Hope the route studies show clear profitability.
K
Karthik V
This partnership with Adani Defence for the civil side is interesting. Building an entire ecosystem – assembly, MRO, training – is the

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