US Lockheed's C-130J & European Airbus's A-400M are the competitors in the race, but Embraer Defense & Security braces up for the challenge as the Brazilian Aerospace company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Mahindra to offer the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft for the Indian Air Force's upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project.
Last year, Embraer was in negotiations with Indian Government owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private companies to sign a proposal to respond to IAF (Indian Air Force) requirements for 40 to 80 medium transport aircraft that will eventually replace the AN32 and even the IL76, which are now facing major maintenance and serviceability issues.
Under the MTA project, Embraer is going to compete with two other Aerospace Majors: Lockheed Martin, from the USA, and the European major Airbus. Interestingly, both Lockheed and Airbus have a partnership with the TATA group for ongoing projects.
These three companies have responded to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Indian Air Force in December 2022, where India is interested in an aircraft with a payload capacity of 18 to 27 tonnes.
The current MoU was signed at the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi as the press release read,
Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of jointly fulfilling the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft by the Indian Air Force in its upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project.
Mr Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security said,
“We are honored to announce this MoU with Mahindra . India has a diverse and strong defense and aerospace industry and we have chosen Mahindra as our partner to jointly pursue the MTA program” “India is a key market for Embraer and we fully support India’s ambitions for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. We see this partnership as a symbol of strengthening relations between Brazil and India and a way to foster Global South cooperation.”
Although the IAF has not specified a number of aircraft for fleet , it has asked an approximate order of magnitude (ROM) cost of aircraft and associated equipment for a batch of 40, 60 and 80 aircraft.
Competing Companies were asked to submit details on the scope of technology transfer, ways to improve indigenization, capacity to ensure local production of systems, subsystems, components and spare parts, and to make India a regional or global hub for MRO (maintenance, repair and general).
Originally a joint Indo-Russian project, that was dissolved in the year 2016, as the effort by the IAF to get MTAs began in the year 2012, to co-develop an aircraft, that would have produced around 145 units in the fleet, with India procuring 45 out of that. The deal collapsed after both the countries were unable to reach an agreement in relation to the aircraft design and engine.
India currently operates a wide range of transport aircraft, from the small Avros to the AN 32, C-130J and the larger IL 76 and C-17. The oldest of them, the Avros, are being replaced by Airbus C-295 planes, with a capacity of 9 tons.
Embraer and Mahindra said in the joint statement that they will engage with the Indian Air Force to identify the next steps of the MTA program, as well as contact the local aerospace industry in India to start developing the industrialization plan for the project.
Mr Vinod Sahay, President Aerospace & Defence Sector and Member of Group Executive Board, Mahindra said,
“We are proud to start this partnership with Embraer, a company that is known for its engineering excellence and a unique portfolio of aircraft and systems. The C-390 Millennium is the most advanced military airlifter in the market, and we believe that this partnership will not only bolster the operational prowess of the Indian Air Force, but also provide an efficient industrialization solution that aligns seamlessly with the objectives of Make in India.”
The MoU was signed by Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Defence Systems, a 100% owned subsidiary of Mahindra, that focuses on armored transport and security-related products including electronics.
Among the competitors, while the C-130 J only meets the minimum requirement with its airlift capacity of around 20 tonnes, the C-390 meets the requirement of the IAF with its payload carrying capacity of 26 tonnes, and the Airbus A-400 M tops the requirement with its 37-ton capacity.
On the multi-mission tactical capabilities, Embraer says,
Embraer has an established presence in India across the fields of defense, commercial aviation and executive aviation. In August 2023, Embraer held a C-390 Millennium Day in New Delhi, India to deepen engagement with the local aerospace industry which was very well attended by the Indian ecosystem.
The C-390 Millennium multi-mission tactical transport aircraft offers unmatched mobility, combining high productivity and operating flexibility with low operating costs, which is an unbeatable combination.
To date, the C-390 Millennium has been selected by Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and most recently, South Korea.
As per Embraer, the C-390 is the most modern military transport aircraft in the market, that can carry more payload (26 tonne) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies 870 km/h (470 knot).
C-390 is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, aerial firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil, and gravel.
The aircraft configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
FAB has operated these aircraft in various domestic and international humanitarian missions — carrying medical and essential supplies during COVID-19 global pandemic; went on a mission to the Republic of Lebanon in 2020.
In 2021 it participated in Operation Culminating, in the United States – operational joint exercise including the Brazilian Air Force & Army and the USAF and US Army.
The collaboration around the C-390 Millennium will bring the latest technology in terms of aerospace & military transport aircraft to India. Both Embraer and Mahindra will explore the potential to turn India into a future hub of the C-390 aircraft for the region.
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