Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Indian conglomerate Mahindra have identified Nagpur as the location for a potential final assembly line for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft in India, according to Reuters.
The proposed facility is linked to the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme and would be established if the C-390 Millennium is selected for the programme. Embraer said the companies are working with the Government of Maharashtra on infrastructure for the proposed project.
The planned Nagpur facility would cover aircraft assembly, system integration, manufacturing engineering and development of a local supply chain. According to Embraer, subject to an award under the programme, the partnership intends to progressively integrate Indian aerospace companies into the C-390 Millennium ecosystem.
The proposed assembly line would therefore extend beyond aircraft assembly alone, with the partners envisaging participation in manufacturing engineering and local supply-chain development as part of the wider industrial framework.
The development comes as Embraer seeks to expand the global presence of the C-390 Millennium and considers India a strategic market for the aircraft. Reuters reported that India is expected to order between 60 and 80 aircraft under the Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
Embraer and Mahindra entered into a partnership in 2025 to pursue the development and production of the C-390 Millennium in India. The latest proposal to establish a potential final assembly facility in Nagpur represents a further step in their efforts to position the aircraft for the Indian market.
The C-390 Millennium is a military transport aircraft and is competing with Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules for the Indian requirement.
The proposed Nagpur facility remains contingent on the C-390 Millennium being selected for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme. Embraer and Mahindra are currently working with the Maharashtra government on infrastructure for the potential project.
If the programme is awarded to the C-390, the proposed facility would provide the framework for final assembly and associated industrial activities in India, while progressively bringing Indian aerospace companies into the aircraft’s wider production ecosystem.
The proposal also places Nagpur at the centre of the potential industrial footprint for the C-390 Millennium in India, with assembly, system integration, manufacturing engineering and local supply-chain development identified as key components of the planned facility.
The development reflects the continuing efforts by Embraer and Mahindra to advance their partnership for the C-390 Millennium in India, while awaiting the outcome of the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
