DefenseBrazil proposes mutual defense deal with India involving C-390 and Tejas jets
Brazil and India are in negotiations for a mutual defense deal that may encompass the sale of the Embraer C-390 Millennium cargo aircraft to the Indian Air Force and, in return, the acquisition of Indian aircraft and defense systems, including the Tejas Mk1A light fighter and the LCH Prachand attack helicopter.
In a recent interview, Brazil’s ambassador to India, Kenneth da Nóbrega, confirmed that there is reciprocity in the interest of both nations to expand cooperation in the defense area.
According to the diplomat, the Brazilian government is exploring the acquisition of Indian military products, while Embraer participates in the Indian tender for the supply of medium transport aircraft (MTA program).
The C-390 Millennium has a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and is designed for operations on short and unpaved runways, features considered relevant in the Indian context. The aircraft is being evaluated, along with the Lockheed C-130J and the Airbus A400M, to replace part of India’s Ilyushin Il-76 fleet.
As part of the proposal, Embraer offers local assembly of the model, with potential for job creation and technology transfer to the Indian aerospace sector, conditions also suggested by competitors.
The Indian government’s plan is to order between 40 and 80 aircraft, which makes the competition more intense due to the financial volume involved.
LCH Prachand helicopter?
On the Brazilian side, interest focuses on the Tejas Mk1A fighter, which features modern avionics and AESA radar, being considered a possible substitute for the F-5 Tiger II jets currently in service with the Brazilian Air Force.
Although the Brazilian government is advancing an expansion of orders for the Gripen fighter, the FAB has indicated that its operational standard requires two to three types of fighters.
Another possible candidate to enter the potential agreement would be the LCH Prachand helicopter, which could be used in missions in hard-to-access regions, such as the Amazon, in place of the Mi-35s retired from service and without substitutes.
The estimated commercial volume for defense operations between the two countries could reach between 2 to 3 billion dollars annually, according to sector projections. Besides the commercial aspect, the countries seek to overcome interoperability and financing challenges to enable collaboration.
The partnership occurs in the context of expanding bilateral trade, which reached 16 billion dollars in 2024-25, and may be facilitated by multilateral forums such as G20 and BRICS, where Brazil and India share strategic interests. The possibility of co-development and offset agreements is also being considered in the negotiations.
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