Tamil Nadu’s aerospace ambitions have come under fresh political scrutiny after Embraer and Mahindra identified Nagpur in Maharashtra as the potential location for a C-390 Millennium aircraft assembly facility in India. The development has prompted BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam to question the Tamil Nadu government over whether the state did enough to pursue the proposed project.
The proposed facility is linked to Embraer’s C-390 Millennium, a military transport aircraft being considered under the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. However, the Nagpur project is not yet a final manufacturing commitment. The facility would move forward only if the C-390 is selected by the Government of India and an order is subsequently placed.
Why Nagpur Has Become the Focus
Embraer and Mahindra have said they are working with the Maharashtra government and have identified Nagpur for a possible Final Assembly Line (FAL). The companies are also working on the requirements needed to establish the proposed facility.
The project could involve local aircraft assembly, systems integration and manufacturing engineering, while also creating opportunities for Indian companies to participate in the wider aerospace supply chain. Mahindra has acknowledged the support provided by the Maharashtra government in facilitating land and other requirements for the proposed facility.
The development is particularly relevant because the C-390 programme is being positioned as a potential long-term aerospace manufacturing opportunity rather than simply an aircraft procurement deal. If the aircraft is selected, domestic industrial participation could extend beyond final assembly into manufacturing, maintenance and other support activities.
Tamil Nadu's Earlier Pitch
Tamil Nadu had previously been considered as a possible destination for the project. Former state Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said the earlier government had presented Sulur and Hosur to Embraer representatives and argued that the company had shown interest in the state’s industrial capabilities.
Rajaa subsequently questioned why Tamil Nadu was no longer being considered after Nagpur emerged as the preferred location. He pointed to the state’s existing aerospace ecosystem, engineering workforce and manufacturing base as factors that should have made it competitive for a project of this scale.
The issue has now become part of a wider political discussion over Tamil Nadu’s ability to attract and retain major defence and aerospace investments. The criticism centres not only on the location decision but also on the level of sustained government engagement required to compete for large industrial projects.
C-390 Decision Still Pending
The proposed Nagpur facility remains conditional on the outcome of the Indian Air Force’s MTA programme. The C-390 is competing for a requirement intended to strengthen India’s military transport capabilities and support the replacement of ageing transport aircraft.
For Tamil Nadu, the controversy highlights the importance of its existing aerospace manufacturing network and the competition between states for large defence-sector investments. Whether the state can secure future projects of a similar scale is likely to remain a political and industrial policy issue.
For now, Nagpur has the advantage of being the location identified by Embraer and Mahindra for a potential C-390 assembly line, while the final outcome depends on the aircraft selection and subsequent government order.
