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Brazilian aerospace large Embraer has pitched its KC-390 Millennium arsenic the “best solution” for the Indian Air Force’s projected procurement of astir 80 mean transport aircraft, with plans to marque India its superior accumulation hub for the Asia-Pacific marketplace if it wins the contract. Talking to PTI, Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto described the KC-390 arsenic a new-generation multi-mission craft and said the institution is well-positioned for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirement."By choosing our aircraft, the Indian Air Force volition person an alignment with a rapidly expanding, interoperable confederation of modern aerial forces. The KC-390 Millennium is simply a caller procreation multi-mission transport and aerial refuelling aircraft."Our craft has been chosen by 9 European countries. It's Nato's champion choice. We judge that the KC-390 is precise good positioned to code the Indian Air Force's requirement," Neto said.The Embraer main was successful New Delhi arsenic portion of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s delegation.India’s Air Force had issued a Request for Information successful 2022 to regenerate its ageing Soviet-origin AN-32 and IL-76 fleets.
The multi-billion dollar acquisition of astir 80 craft is expected to beryllium taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council successful the coming months.Apart from the KC-390 Millennium, different contenders see Airbus Defence and Space’s A400M and Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules. The IAF presently operates 12 C-130J aircraft.Embraer has partnered with Mahindra Group for the MTA programme and is besides exploring the mounting up of a determination Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub successful India for KC-390 operators.Neto said the jet-powered KC-390 offers a 26-ton payload compared to the 20-ton capableness of the C-130J and tin run from abbreviated and unpaved runways."The craft is rather prepared to run from abbreviated and adjacent unpaved runways. Compared to C-130Js, KC-390 is 25-30 per cent faster and its operational outgo volition beryllium little due to the fact that it is simply a jet-powered craft arsenic against the turboprop(C-130Js)," helium said."It carries much loads, it is faster, it tin spell further. You tin person less craft to bash the aforesaid missions," helium added.Embraer has said that if selected, it volition question to guarantee maximum indigenous contented and usage India arsenic a accumulation basal to service different Asia-Pacific markets. "The accumulation enactment successful India volition instrumentality attraction of the request successful Asia Pacific," Neto said.Separately, Embraer and Adani Defence and Aerospace exchanged an enhanced memorandum of knowing to acceptable up a last assembly enactment for the E175 determination pitchy nether India’s Regional Transport Aircraft programme, expanding their earlier statement signed successful January 2026.
