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Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer has presented a strategic proposal to the Indian Air Force (IAF), suggesting its C-390M Millennium aircraft as a common platform for both its future Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) and its next-generation Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) requirements.
This offer provides a potential solution to the significant hurdles the IAF faces in acquiring additional ERJ-145 jets for its Netra Mk1A surveillance program, as the aircraft has been out of production for over a decade.
The IAF's plan to expand its airborne surveillance capabilities, known as the Netra Mk1A program, has encountered major obstacles. The program intended to mount advanced Indian-made radar systems onto six second-hand Embraer ERJ-145 airframes. However, finding suitable used aircraft has proven difficult and costly.
The process of retrofitting these older jets involves extensive and expensive modifications to meet military standards, raising concerns about airframe condition, future maintenance, and the availability of spare parts for a platform that is no longer being manufactured. The estimated cost for this complex conversion project stands at approximately ₹9,000 crore (around $1.1 billion).
Embraer's C-390M Millennium is a modern, twin-engine transport aircraft and a primary candidate for the IAF’s MTA project, which aims to procure 60 to 80 new aircraft to replace the vintage Antonov An-32 fleet.
The C-390M is designed for versatility, capable of carrying a 26-ton payload and equipped with advanced features like a fly-by-wire flight control system.
The company's new proposal highlights that a specialised AWACS variant of this aircraft could be co-developed with India.
An AWACS aircraft, often called an "eye-in-the-sky," provides crucial surveillance and command functions during air operations. The C-390M's larger size and capacity would allow it to host more powerful and sophisticated mission systems developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Unlike the current Netra system on the smaller ERJ-145, which offers 240-degree radar coverage, a C-390M-based AWACS could feature a more advanced radar with 300 or even 360-degree coverage. It would also have greater endurance and space for more operator stations and enhanced self-defence suites.
This proposal strongly aligns with India's "Make in India" initiatives.
Embraer has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahindra Defence Systems to establish a final assembly line for the C-390M in India if it is selected for the MTA contract.
This partnership would create a domestic hub for manufacturing, maintenance, and training, fostering significant technology transfer and boosting India's aerospace and defence industry.
Despite the apparent advantages, the IAF has not yet formally evaluated the C-390M for the dual transport and AWACS roles.
The Air Force's current preference for the ERJ-145 platform is based on fleet commonality, which simplifies logistics, training, and maintenance since it already operates several ERJ-145 variants.
However, the operational challenges and rising costs associated with sourcing and modifying obsolete aircraft present a compelling case for considering Embraer's modern, multi-role solution, which promises a faster development timeline, lower lifecycle costs, and superior capabilities to meet the region's evolving security landscape.
