Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace, a reference player in India’s aerospace and defence and the flagship company of Adani Enterprises Ltd, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. The companies aim to collaborate on opportunities in aircraft manufacturing, supply chain, aftermarket services, and pilot training.

The collaborative industrial partnership will aim to establish an assembly line, followed by a phased increase in indigenization to advance India’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) program, in alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and the UDAN regional connectivity vision. This potential partnership will leverage Embraer’s deep engineering and aircraft manufacturing expertise alongside Adani’s aviation value-chain footprint, which includes airport infrastructure, aerospace manufacturing, MRO services, and pilot training. The proposed ecosystem is geared towards supporting domestic demand while generating significant direct and indirect employment across engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and support services.

Embraer has a growing footprint and long history in India, with nearly 50 Embraer airplanes and 11 aircraft types currently operating across commercial, defense, and business aviation. Its aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force include the Legacy 600 airplane and the ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft based on the ERJ-145 platform, while Star Air operates a fleet of 13 E-175 and ERJ-145 planes.