Embraer, Mahindra pick Nagpur for C-390 assembly line
Brazil's Embraer and the Mahindra Group have zeroed in on Nagpur as the preferred site for a final assembly line for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The plan applies only if the jet is selected for the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft programme. The companies are working with the Maharashtra government to ready the industrial base.
The two companies announced on October 1–2 that Nagpur would host the potential final assembly line, bringing know-how in aircraft assembly, system integration, manufacturing engineering and local supply-chain development. Mahindra's Vinod Sahay said the company is preparing an industrial ecosystem that can support the programme at scale.
Everything hinges on selection: the facility moves ahead only if the Government of India picks the C-390 for the IAF's MTA programme and places an order. Embraer Defense & Security chief Bosco da Costa Jr called naming Nagpur an important step towards a long-term aerospace ecosystem in India.
The announcement builds on a partnership that began with a February 2024 MoU, followed by a strategic cooperation agreement in October 2025 and MRO capability plans in February 2026. If awarded, Indian aerospace firms would join the C-390 ecosystem in stages for manufacturing, aftermarket services, training and lifecycle support.
