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Speculation surrounds a C-390 Millennium transport aircraft unveiled at the Aero India 2023 show in India, as the country prepares to replace its current transport aircraft.
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The military multi-mission tactical air transport aircraft was presented by Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer as a static display for the Aero India 2023 international aerospace exhibition held in Bangalore, India from 13 to 17 February.
The new display coincides with an existing Indian Air Force request for information regarding replacement of military transport aircraft announced in December. The bid submission date for that request ends on 31 March this year.
The C-390 has been in service with the Brazilian Air Force since 2019 and Embraer has C-390 orders for Portugal and Hungary. The Netherlands has also selected the C-390 Millennium to replace its C-130Hs in 2022.
The C-390 can carry 26 tonnes of cargo on a wide range of missions such as aerial refuelling for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, airborne operations, troop and cargo transportation, humanitarian missions, medical evacuation, firefighting, search and rescue.
Embraer Defense and Security president and chief executive officer Bosco da Costa Junior said Embraer looks forward to engaging with India’s defence and aerospace ecosystem at the event.
“We are proud to bring Embraer’s iconic C-390 Millennium to India for our guests to experience the true capabilities of this 21st century military multi-mission aircraft.
“India is a key market for Embraer, and we are keen to establish partnerships in the country that can further boost India’s defence industries and capabilities.”
The Indian Air Force already operates three of Embraer’s Netra DRDO Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft.
Russia's Rosoboronexport, from Rostec State Corporation, is also exhibiting more than 200 advanced Russian-made samples of armaments and military hardware at the exhibition.
Their offerings include IL-76MD-90AE military transport aircraft, Su-57E fifth-generation multi-functional fighter, Checkmate light tactical aircraft, IL-78MK-90A tanker aircraft, Su-35, Su-30SME super-manoeuvrable fighters and the MiG-35D multi-functional frontline fighter.
Rosoboronexport director general Alexander A Mikheev said the company is also exhibiting utility, upgraded attack and transport helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defence missile man-portable air defence systems, and anti-drone systems.
“Rosoboronexport is a permanent exhibitor at Aero India, one of the world’s largest air shows, where the Russian display traditionally stands out for its scale and the range of exhibited products for the air and air defence forces,” he said.
“The exhibition gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase modern Russian-made weaponry and discuss the areas for further bilateral cooperation with India.
“The military-technical cooperation between Russia and India is an example of industrial partnership with a number of completed and ongoing joint projects for all services of the armed forces.
“Today, we are offering new points of cooperation within the joint development and production of high-tech products on the premises of Indian enterprises under the national Make in India program in compliance with all localisation and technology transfer requirements.”
