Special Report: Embraer targets long-term industrial growth in India

An IAF ‘Netra' AEW&C aircraft on static display at Aero India 2025. The IAF seeks to acquire six additional ‘Netra' platforms. (Janes/Samuel Vivek Williams)

Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer signed a contract with India's Bharat Forge on 12 May to supply forged raw materials, strengthening its role in the country's defence supply chain.

According to Embraer, the agreement supports the company's supply chain with “high-quality forged products” while advancing efforts to expand and diversify its supplier base and strengthen industrial capabilities in key growth markets.

Embraer said its partnership with Bharat Forge for forged raw materials – its first supply contract signed with an Indian company – underscores its efforts to support the aerospace ecosystem in India and generate a long-term value across the entire supply chain.

The collaboration “comes at a time when Embraer is steadily expanding its presence in the country and maintaining active dialogue with local industry leaders and government stakeholders”, it added.

India focus

Embraer has been accelerating its engagement with India's defence sector through partnerships, local subsidiaries, and bids for major Indian Air Force (IAF) programmes.

The company established a new Indian subsidiary in AeroCity, New Delhi, in May 2025 to deepen collaboration with the Indian aerospace and defence industry. It has also partnered with local firms such as Adani Defence & Aerospace and Mahindra Defence Systems to support India's transport aircraft ecosystem.

Country head and director of Embraer (Defense & Security) India Sankalp Shrivastava described the company's engagement with India as a long-term commitment to a major growth market in defence aviation industry.

Shrivastava told Janes in April that Embraer maintains a growing presence in India, with about 50 aircraft spanning 11 different types operating across commercial, defence, and business aviation.