Embraer, Mahindra shortlist Nagpur for potential C-390 Millennium assembly line in India

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Indian conglomerate Mahindra have identified Nagpur as the likely site for a proposed final assembly line for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft in India, according to Reuters. The plan is tied to the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme and would move forward only if the C-390 Millennium is selected for the contract.

The companies are working with the Government of Maharashtra on the infrastructure needed for the potential project. If approved, the proposed facility would not be limited to aircraft assembly alone. Embraer said the Nagpur site is envisioned to include system integration, manufacturing engineering and development of a local supply chain, with Indian aerospace companies gradually brought into the C-390 Millennium ecosystem.

The proposal adds another layer to Embraer’s effort to expand the aircraft’s global footprint, with India viewed as a key market. Reuters reported that India is expected to order between 60 and 80 aircraft under the Medium Transport Aircraft programme, a requirement that has made the C-390 Millennium one of the contenders for the deal.

Embraer and Mahindra entered into a partnership in 2025 to pursue the development and production of the C-390 Millennium in India. The latest move to identify Nagpur for a possible final assembly line is presented as the next step in that collaboration, aimed at building a deeper industrial presence in the country if the aircraft wins selection.

The C-390 Millennium is a military transport aircraft and is competing against Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules for the Indian requirement. The outcome of the programme will determine whether the proposed Nagpur facility is established and whether the broader industrial plan involving assembly, integration and supply-chain development proceeds.

For now, the proposal remains contingent on a formal award under the Indian Air Force programme. Until then, Embraer and Mahindra are continuing to work with the Maharashtra government on the groundwork for the potential project while awaiting the final decision on the Medium Transport Aircraft competition.