Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said on 19 February 2026 that Embraer and the Mahindra Group plan to work towards establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capability in India for the C-390 Millennium aircraft, subject to its selection in the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. The announcement follows a strategic partnership signed in October 2025 to produce the C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in India.
The proposed MRO facility will provide comprehensive in-country maintenance and sustainment support for the C-390 fleet, aimed at ensuring operational readiness and availability. The collaboration is positioned to support the Indian Air Force’s MTA programme and includes plans to establish local manufacturing.
The C-390 Millennium has a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and can undertake missions including cargo and troop transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions. The aircraft can operate from temporary or unpaved runways and may be configured for air-to-air refuelling as both tanker and receiver. The in-service fleet has recorded a mission completion rate above 99 percent.
“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 facility is expected to offer services including base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections and testing, component repair and overhaul, avionics support and training. Embraer and Mahindra also intend to expand collaboration with Indian aerospace companies to increase localisation of the C-390 Millennium and support MRO activities.
“Embraer and Mahindra, intends to expand collaboration with Indian Aerospace companies to drive higher localisation of C-390 Millenium and also to support MRO activities, reinforcing our commitment to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” said Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support of Embraer.
The companies are evaluating the potential for India to serve as a regional MRO hub for other C-390 Millennium operators. The aircraft has been selected by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Lithuania.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is part of the Mahindra Group, founded in 1945, which employs 324,000 people across more than 100 countries and operates across sectors including farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services, renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.
