The Adani Group, India’s largest private airport operator, is set to take a major leap into aircraft manufacturing. Its company, Adani Aerospace & Defence, has signed a landmark deal with Brazil’s Embraer to assemble commercial aircraft in India. The partnership comes under the government’s “Make in India” initiative and aims to create a complete ecosystem for Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) in the country.
Historic Deal in Presence of Aviation Minister
New Delhi: The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer after Airbus and Boeing, will collaborate with Adani to establish aircraft assembly operations in India. While the exact location of the factory and the final partnership structure are yet to be decided, Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani said that planning and operational work will begin soon. “Timelines and other details will be finalized in the coming months, and we expect to start work immediately at the chosen site,” he added.
Building a Complete Aerospace Ecosystem
Embraer has indicated that the partnership will involve an equal stake, though the final terms are still under negotiation. Beyond assembly, both companies aim to develop a full ecosystem for regional aircraft, covering manufacturing, supply chain, aftermarket services, MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul), and pilot training.
India: A Key Market for Embraer
Arjan Meijer, President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said India is a very important market for the company. “This partnership combines Embraer’s aerospace expertise with Adani’s strong industrial capabilities and commitment to indigenization,” he added. Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha highlighted that India’s aviation sector is among the fastest-growing globally, with rapid expansion of airport infrastructure and rising passenger and cargo traffic.
Embraer’s Presence in India
Embraer is not new to India. Indian airlines operate over 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 models, including planes used by the Indian Air Force, government agencies, and regional carrier Star Air. Under a previous Make in India partnership with the Mahindra Group, Embraer had also proposed its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft for India’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program.
This deal positions India to become a hub for regional aircraft assembly, further strengthening the country’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and boosting “Make in India” initiatives.