Nagpur

Nagpur Eyed for C-390 Military Aircraft Assembly by Embraer, Mahindra

Nagpur could become a major aerospace manufacturing hub if the Indian Air Force selects the C-390 Millennium, with Embraer and Mahindra identifying the city for a Final Assembly Line.

By RTech News Desk 03 October 2026 3 min read

Engineers work on a large military transport aircraft fuselage inside a modern aerospace assembly facility in Nagpur.

Summary

Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer and the Mahindra Group have identified Nagpur as a potential location for a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. This development is contingent on the Indian Air Force (IAF) selecting the C-390 for its Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. If selected, Nagpur could become a significant aerospace manufacturing center, with plans to potentially produce around 80 aircraft. Separately, an extortion case has been registered against seven Shinde Sena office bearers in Nagpur, and the city is experiencing drought conditions, impacting local crops.

Key points

Nagpur identified as potential C-390 military aircraft assembly site.
Embraer and Mahindra Group propose Final Assembly Line for IAF program.
Facility contingent on IAF selecting C-390 Millennium for MTA program.
Potential to manufacture around 80 military transport aircraft in Nagpur.
Extortion case filed against seven Shinde Sena office bearers in Nagpur.
Nagpur facing drought conditions, impacting agricultural crops.

Nagpur has been identified as a potential location for a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, a development that could position the city as a significant aerospace manufacturing center, according to nagpurtoday.in and timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

Potential Aerospace Hub

Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and the Mahindra Group have identified Nagpur as the site for the potential facility. The proposal involves the possibility of manufacturing approximately 80 military transport aircraft in the city, contingent on the Indian Air Force (IAF) selecting the C-390 Millennium for its Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, nagpurtoday.in reported.

If established, the facility is expected to bring capabilities in aircraft assembly, systems integration, manufacturing engineering, and supply-chain development to Nagpur. This could significantly enhance Nagpur's role in India's aerospace and defense manufacturing sector, nagpurtoday.in stated.

Embraer and Mahindra are currently collaborating with the Maharashtra Government on preparatory processes required for setting up the industrial and support ecosystem. However, both companies have clarified that the facility will only be established if the C-390 Millennium is selected by the Government of India and an order is placed under the IAF’s MTA program, according to nagpurtoday.in.

Vinod Sahay, a Member of the Group Executive Board at Mahindra Group, stated that the company is committed to developing a globally competitive aerospace ecosystem in India and fostering manufacturing and technology capabilities in line with the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, nagpurtoday.in reported.

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defence and Security, described the identification of Nagpur as a potential location for an assembly facility as an important step towards building a long-term aerospace ecosystem in India, according to nagpurtoday.in.

The IAF is seeking to procure around 80 Medium Transport Aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-origin AN-32 and IL-76 transport aircraft. The C-390 Millennium is competing against aircraft such as the Airbus A400M and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. The IAF currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft, nagpurtoday.in added.

The C-390 Millennium is a twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft designed and manufactured by Embraer. It has a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes and is capable of various missions, including troop and cargo transportation, airdrops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian operations. The aircraft is also designed to operate from temporary or unpaved runways, according to nagpurtoday.in.

Partnership Milestones

The partnership between Embraer and Mahindra for the C-390 program has been progressing for the past two years, nagpurtoday.in reported:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in February 2024.
A strategic cooperation agreement was entered into in October 2025 to jointly pursue the C-390 Millennium for the IAF’s MTA requirement.
In February 2026, the companies announced plans to work towards establishing C-390 Millennium Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities in India, also subject to the aircraft being selected under the MTA program.

The proposed industrialization program would combine Embraer’s aerospace engineering and aircraft manufacturing expertise with Mahindra’s manufacturing capabilities and established industrial network in India. If the proposal materializes, Nagpur could develop an ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and supply-chain development, according to nagpurtoday.in.

The project, however, remains contingent on the outcome of the IAF’s MTA procurement process and the Government of India’s selection of the C-390 Millennium, nagpurtoday.in concluded.

Other Local Developments

Extortion Case Registered

In other news, an extortion case has been registered against seven office bearers of the Shinde Sena in Nagpur. They are accused of demanding 1.2 million rupees from a hospital following a patient's death, according to Esakal.

Crime Incident Reported

Lokmat.com reported a crime incident in Nagpur involving a 13-year-old girl. The girl was reportedly picked up from outside her school by two individuals and taken to a secluded location.

Drought Affects Crops

Nagpur is also experiencing the effects of a drought, with crops severely impacted by insufficient rainfall. This has led to stunted crop growth due to a lack of water, marathi.ndtv.com reported yesterday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the condition for setting up the C-390 assembly facility in Nagpur?

The facility will only be established if the Indian Air Force (IAF) selects the C-390 Millennium for its Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. An order must also be placed by the Government of India.

What other news was reported from Nagpur?

An extortion case was registered against seven Shinde Sena office bearers. A crime incident involving a 13-year-old girl was also reported. Additionally, Nagpur is experiencing a drought, which has severely impacted crops.

What is the C-390 Millennium aircraft?

The C-390 Millennium is a twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft designed by Embraer. It has a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes and can perform various missions, including cargo transport, airdrops, and humanitarian operations.

Who are the key partners in this aerospace proposal?

The key partners are Brazilian aerospace major Embraer and the Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group. They are collaborating on the proposal to establish the C-390 assembly facility in Nagpur.