Embraer and Adani Defense and Aerospace, the flagship company of Adani Enterprises Limited, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to manufacture aircraft in India and develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in the country.
Under the agreement, both the companies will set up Final Assembly Lines (FALs) for regional aircraft in India. However, details of the location of the proposed facility and the timeline for the rollout of the first aircraft were not disclosed at the signing ceremony.
“The collaborative industrial partnership will aim to set up an assembly line, followed by a phased increase in indigenization to advance India’s regional transport aircraft (RTA) program in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and the UDAN regional connectivity vision,” Adani said in a statement.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the collaboration is an important step in India’s regional aviation ambitions.
He said, “The strategic collaboration between Adani Aerospace and Defense and Embraer on India’s regional transport aircraft development… Today, I would also like to add that the perfect match has also been found with the partnership between Embraer and Adani Aerospace Enterprise. This collaboration is also a reflection of the deepening strategic partnership between India and Brazil and the presence of His Excellency, the Ambassador of Brazil and the Councilor of Brazil adds a special significance to the occasion, which further reinforces the strong ties between these two countries. Does.”
Naidu said India and Brazil share strong strategic relations. “India and Brazil are strategic partners bound by common values, shared aspirations and strong people-to-people ties. We have always stood for co-creating solutions and cooperation on the global stage through platforms such as BRICS, G20, WTO and the Global Biofuels Alliance. The upcoming visit of the Honorable President of Brazil is expected to further advance India-Brazil relations, with aerospace and aviation also being a major focus in India.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said India is a key market for the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. “India is an important market for Embraer and this partnership combines our aerospace expertise with Adani’s strong industrial capabilities and commitment to indigenization,” he said.
Meijer said regional aviation plays an important role in economic development. He said with the change in air connectivity in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with initiatives like UDAN, the need for an indigenous regional aviation ecosystem has become increasingly important.
Jeet Adani, director of Adani Defense and Aerospace, said the partnership will also strengthen the strategic relationship between India and Brazil by “bringing together complementary capabilities”.
Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said such collaborations directly support the objectives of the Defense Ministry.
“From the Defense Ministry’s perspective, such partnerships directly contribute to our objectives of reducing import dependence, enhancing operational readiness and ensuring timely availability of platforms and spare parts. Indigenous manufacturing and MRO capability also improves availability and reduces life cycle costs, which are critical factors for force readiness. Such collaboration will also help in creating a skilled workforce that is capable of supporting not only domestic requirements but also global aerospace programmes… civil aviation and A coordinated approach between defense increases efficiency, optimizes resources and accelerates capability development,” he said.
Indian aviation companies have ordered more than 1,800 aircraft, reflecting strong global confidence in India’s aviation growth story. However, officials stressed that a resilient and sustainable aviation ecosystem cannot depend solely on imports.
Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha said, “For long-term competitiveness, India must be part of the global aircraft manufacturing battery.”
Sinha said, “The partnership between Embraer and Adani Defense and Aerospace is a decisive step. This collaboration is not just about assembling aircraft. It is about progressive transfer of technology. It is about skill development and workforce capability.”
He said the partnership is also about building a strong domestic supply chain and establishing India as a reliable manufacturing hub for regional aircraft.
