Mumbai, Jan 27 (.) Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer of Brazil issued a joint statement today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a regional transport aircraft (RTA) ecosystem in India, to enable indigenous aircraft manufacturing and regional air connectivity.
As per the MoU, Embraer and Adani Defence plan to establish an aircraft assembly line in India, followed by a phased increase in indigenisation.
According to the statement, India has long discussed the need for a domestically produced regional aircraft to reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers and support short-haul routes that are often commercially unviable for larger jets. The collaboration seeks to address this gap by combining Embraer’s experience in regional aircraft design and manufacturing with Adani’s expanding footprint across India’s aviation infrastructure, the statement mentioned.
“India is a pivotal market for Embraer, and this partnership combines our aerospace expertise with Adani’s strong industrial capabilities and commitment to indigenisation. Together, we will evaluate the most viable, advanced, and efficient solutions in support of India’s RTA ambitions and their potential for implementation,” Embraer Commercial Aviation President & CEO Arjan Meijer said.
“Regional aviation is the backbone of economic expansion. With initiatives like UDAN transforming air connectivity across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, the need for an indigenous regional aviation ecosystem has become critical. This partnership will also strengthen strategic relations between India and Brazil, bringing complementary capabilities together,” Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani said.
“We are shaping India’s regional transport aircraft ecosystem, a bold stride toward Aatmanirbhar aviation that bridges urban-rural divide, generates high-skill employment, and elevates India’s position in the global aerospace industry,” Adani Defence & Aerospace President & CEO Ashish Rajvanshi said.
Both the companies stated that the proposed aircraft assembly ecosystem is intended to serve domestic demand as well as create employment across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and support services. Though no timelines or aircraft configurations have been announced, the focus appears to be on establishing an end-to-end industrial base rather than limited aircraft assembly operations.
Embraer stated that it already has an operational footprint in India. Nearly 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 variants are currently in service in India, spanning commercial, defence and business aviation. The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates Embraer platforms including the Legacy 600 and the ‘Netra’ airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the ERJ145. In the civil aviation sector, Star Air operates a fleet of E175 and ERJ145 aircraft on regional routes.
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