Embraer Vows Consistent Parts Supply and 90%+ High Serviceability of C-390M if India Chooses it Under MTA Program

In a bid to secure a major contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF), Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer has made firm commitments regarding the operational readiness of its C-390M transport aircraft.

The IAF is currently evaluating the C-390M as a potential contender for its Medium Tactical Transport (MTA) program, a deal that could see the acquisition of 60-80 aircraft.

Embraer is emphasizing the high serviceability rate of the C-390M, a critical factor for the IAF. To ensure smooth and continuous operations, the company plans to establish a robust supply chain within India, minimizing dependence on parts from Brazil. This initiative will be undertaken in collaboration with Mahindra Defence, a leading Indian defense firm.

Highlighting the aircraft's reliability, Embraer pointed to the experience of the Brazilian Air Force, which currently operates six C-390Ms and boasts a serviceability rate of over 97%.

This achievement, even with a relatively small fleet, underscores the aircraft's robust design and Embraer's commitment to maintenance support. The Brazilian Air Force has 13 more C-390Ms on order and plans to further expand its fleet, demonstrating its confidence in the aircraft.

If the IAF selects the C-390M, it would become the largest operator of the aircraft globally, surpassing even the Brazilian Air Force. Embraer's pledge to maintain a high serviceability rate addresses a key concern for the IAF, whose current transport fleet, composed largely of Soviet-era aircraft, often struggles to achieve a serviceability rate above 50%.

The exception is the IAF's fleet of 11 C-17 strategic transport aircraft, which consistently maintains a serviceability rate above 90%. However, the significantly larger size of the proposed C-390M fleet makes Embraer's commitment all the more noteworthy.

This focus on serviceability and localized support could give Embraer a competitive edge in the MTA program, where it faces competition from Airbus's A400M Atlas and Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules.

The IAF is expected to conduct a thorough evaluation of all contenders, considering factors such as capability, future upgrade potential, and life-cycle costs before making a final decision.

 

[sanket]

Embraer better to shift produtcion line with complete Eco-system to Bharat if it wins the MTA tender , second if IAF going for 60 than this no is more than what Brazil operate this Justify For Local production Line with complete Eco-system with Even any DPSUs or Pvt players From Bharat can hold stake

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Barter deal with them will be good. Howitzer, tanks, fighter jets, missiles can be offered to them.

 

[R. Singh]

Select C-390 only if it can operate from DBO airfield, and other high altitude air strips of Arunanchal and Laddakh !

 

[NSR]

Dassault wants to do MRO for even Mirage-2000Is even after HAL overhauled, upgraded, integrated, and flight tested 48 Mirage-2000s.

Indian surely needs MRO work for 36 Rafales but why would India need Dassault MRO for Mirage-2000Is?
It is daylight robbery to steal work from HAL and India.

Now even Embraer is also saying it will supply spare parts and guarantee high serviceability which means that they want to do MROs for C390s too, and no TOTs at all.
Not a great idea as it does not meet smell or taste tests.

Be careful as to what you sign.

 

[Kira]

Embraer better to shift produtcion line with complete Eco-system to Bharat if it wins the MTA tender , second if IAF going for 60 than this no is more than what Brazil operate this Justify For Local production Line with complete Eco-system with Even any DPSUs or Pvt players From Bharat can hold stake

I don't think they will much choice in that matter, as India will most likely be the largest operator of this plane, and that I believe 60 units is a baseline requirement for only a cargo variant, the number will likely exceed that due to need for more specialised variants perhaps by other services.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

Not taking into account the financial aspect and any thing else. Its wiser to go in for the c-390 for the foll-

1. Its more modern in all ways, avionics, engines, airframe , better payload range ratio. etc,
2. It is easy for us to get TOT from brazil as they dont have much orders and are desperate to sell to us to Appropriate the investment cost.
3. We can convert it into any role , Awacs, maritime patrol , refueller, EW warfare etc. which is very important. India is lucky to have pulled out of the Russian project of a similar platform ie the IL -214 . Russia tried to blackmail us into accepting Russian engines but given our experience with the IL-76 series engines, we said no. We wanted a western engine. The moment is ripe , we can barter with other defense equipment from India as well
4. the most important one is all our transport fleet which has become nearly US. C-17 and C-130. US will never let you modify any of their platforms and the c-130 cannot be modified into refuellers.. too slow for fighter jets. To slow for maritime patrol.. unsuitable for large EW , but US has converted some.. call compass etc ... awacs no.

so we cannot put all of our eggs in the US basket. given USA track record. Better be safe

 

[Sandeep]

If India goes for the embraer plane then we should try and get the best deal possible with a high amount of ToT, local manufacturing and with indigenous technology. Brazil needs orders and India has a large requirement for this type of planes and having a good serviceability rate is very important to us in emergencies.

Also the Russian planes are using technology that was developed over 30 years ago so obviously they won’t have a great serviceability rate. They also need upgrading and a major overhaul to increase its lifespan as well.

 

[RK]

Why not ask them for TOT and joint manufacturing in India?? Just MRO is enough ??

 

[Dredd]

Embraer better to shift produtcion line with complete Eco-system to Bharat if it wins the MTA tender , second if IAF going for 60 than this no is more than what Brazil operate this Justify For Local production Line with complete Eco-system with Even any DPSUs or Pvt players From Bharat can hold stake

MTA tender mandates local production with local player similar to C295, I sincerely hope DPSU are kept away from this tender.

 

[Harshdeep SINGH]

IAF should go for atleast 80 or 100 C390Ms as it has a huge requirement for AWACS and Tankers and this platform can serve the purpose. Also this platform can be modified into maritime patrol aircaft similar to P8i. Partnership with Embraer will benifit both Indian defence as well as civil aviation sector.

 

[Alok Gupta]

Why not ask them for TOT and joint manufacturing in India?? Just MRO is enough ??

Embrar has already offered that and they are willing to set up a manufacturing plant in India.

 

[MF]

Not taking into account the financial aspect and any thing else. Its wiser to go in for the c-390 for the foll-

1. Its more modern in all ways, avionics, engines, airframe , better payload range ratio. etc,
2. It is easy for us to get TOT from brazil as they dont have much orders and are desperate to sell to us to Appropriate the investment cost.
3. We can convert it into any role , Awacs, maritime patrol , refueller, EW warfare etc. which is very important. India is lucky to have pulled out of the Russian project of a similar platform ie the IL -214 . Russia tried to blackmail us into accepting Russian engines but given our experience with the IL-76 series engines, we said no. We wanted a western engine. The moment is ripe , we can barter with other defense equipment from India as well
4. the most important one is all our transport fleet which has become nearly US. C-17 and C-130. US will never let you modify any of their platforms and the c-130 cannot be modified into refuellers.. too slow for fighter jets. To slow for maritime patrol.. unsuitable for large EW , but US has converted some.. call compass etc ... awacs no.

so we cannot put all of our eggs in the US basket. given USA track record. Better be safe

Why do you think Brazilians are desperate to sell the aircraft? Considering the category that this type of aircraft belongs to, I am sure that the Brazilian company was already aware that the sales pace would not be accelerated. Embraer itself has already stated that it is not willing to sell its aircraft below the production cost or with an adequate profit margin in exchange only for guaranteed orders abroad.

Furthermore, depending on the level of technology transfer offered, there could be resistance from the Brazilian government, which has invested billions of dollars in the project in order to foster its aerospace industry and contribute to job creation and industrial development. I am sure that Embraer, the Brazilian government, as well as other competitors and their governments, are not willing to give everything so easily to India, since they know that in the future, they will have a new competitor.

 

[MF]

Embraer better to shift produtcion line with complete Eco-system to Bharat if it wins the MTA tender , second if IAF going for 60 than this no is more than what Brazil operate this Justify For Local production Line with complete Eco-system with Even any DPSUs or Pvt players From Bharat can hold stake

Do you really believe that the Brazilian government would allow Embraer to move the production line with a complete ecosystem to India just to win the bid?

The Brazilian government itself invested billions of dollars in the aircraft development program in exchange for creating jobs and promoting its aerospace industry.

Not even Airbus or Lockheed Martin would be crazy enough to take such an action, as it would result in the closure of factories in their countries and consequently the loss of thousands of jobs.

If India really wants to have an aircraft production line with a complete ecosystem, it will have to be content with the transfer of technology offered by Western manufacturers and in the future develop its own aircraft and everything else that is interested and necessary.

 

[MF]

Barter deal with them will be good. Howitzer, tanks, fighter jets, missiles can be offered to them.

I think it is highly unlikely that there will be an exchange agreement in the short or medium term. The Brazilian armed forces are already in the process of renewing vehicles and weapons.

I believe that the only thing that India has to offer and is of interest to Brazil are missile systems and possible cooperation/assistance in the development of its nuclear submarine.

I don't believe that attack jets like the Tejas are really of interest to the Brazilian Air Force, as they opted for the Gripen along with technology transfer.

 

[MF]

Dassault wants to do MRO for even Mirage-2000Is even after HAL overhauled, upgraded, integrated, and flight tested 48 Mirage-2000s.

Indian surely needs MRO work for 36 Rafales but why would India need Dassault MRO for Mirage-2000Is?
It is daylight robbery to steal work from HAL and India.

Now even Embraer is also saying it will supply spare parts and guarantee high serviceability which means that they want to do MROs for C390s too, and no TOTs at all.
Not a great idea as it does not meet smell or taste tests.

Be careful as to what you sign.

Who said that Embraer is not offering technology transfer? The Brazilian company and all other competitors are offering this, as it is a requirement of the bidding.

The fact that they offer technology transfer does not mean that they are willing to make a complete transfer of the production ecosystem of their products, as this would imply political, military and even economic resistance from their countries.

All participating companies will likely offer, in addition to technology transfer, the opening of final assembly lines in India, along with some level of local integration.