KC-390 Millennium: Embraer pitches Nato’s new favourite for IAF’s 80-aircraft deal, eyes India as production hub

Brazilian aerospace major Embraer has pitched its KC-390 Millennium as the “best solution” for the Indian Air Force’s proposed procurement of around 80 medium transport aircraft, with plans to make India its primary production hub for the Asia-Pacific market if it wins the contract.

Talking to PTI, Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto described the KC-390 as a new-generation multi-mission aircraft and said the company is well-positioned for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirement.




"By choosing our aircraft, the Indian Air Force will have an alignment with a rapidly expanding, interoperable alliance of modern air forces. The KC-390 Millennium is a new generation multi-mission transport and aerial refuelling aircraft.

"Our aircraft has been chosen by nine European countries. It's Nato's best choice. We believe that the KC-390 is very well positioned to address the Indian Air Force's requirement," Neto said.

The Embraer chief was in New Delhi as part of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s delegation.

India’s Air Force had issued a Request for Information in 2022 to replace its ageing Soviet-origin AN-32 and IL-76 fleets. The multi-billion dollar acquisition of around 80 aircraft is expected to be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council in the coming months.

Apart from the KC-390 Millennium, other contenders include Airbus Defence and Space’s A400M and Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules. The IAF currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft.

Embraer has partnered with Mahindra Group for the MTA programme and is also exploring the setting up of a regional Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in India for KC-390 operators.

Neto said the jet-powered KC-390 offers a 26-ton payload compared to the 20-ton capacity of the C-130J and can operate from short and unpaved runways.

"The aircraft is quite prepared to operate from short and even unpaved runways. Compared to C-130Js, KC-390 is 25-30 per cent faster and its operational cost will be less because it is a jet-powered aircraft as against the turboprop(C-130Js)," he said.

"It carries more loads, it is faster, it can go further. You can have fewer aircraft to do the same missions," he added.

Embraer has said that if selected, it will seek to ensure maximum indigenous content and use India as a production base to serve other Asia-Pacific markets. "The production line in India will take care of the demand in Asia Pacific," Neto said.

Separately, Embraer and Adani Defence and Aerospace exchanged an enhanced memorandum of understanding to set up a final assembly line for the E175 regional jet under India’s Regional Transport Aircraft programme, expanding their earlier agreement signed in January 2026.