Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Nagpur Emerges as Proposed C-390 Assembly Site, Sparking Criticism
Mahindra and Embraer are considering Nagpur for a factory to put together C-390 military aircraft.
The factory will be built only if India’s Air Force chooses that aircraft for a major order.
The companies said Maharashtra helped by allotting land quickly.
Tamil Nadu’s opposition parties say their state should have won the opportunity and blame the current TVK government for not following up enough.
They say Tamil Nadu already has aerospace businesses and skilled workers.
The state’s industries minister disagrees that the current government lost the projects being discussed.
She says those projects had already been promised to other states earlier.
The assembly line and its jobs are therefore still conditional on the Air Force’s decision.
Mahindra Group and Embraer identified Nagpur, Maharashtra, as the potential site for a C-390 Millennium aircraft assembly line.
The facility would proceed only if the aircraft is selected for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
The proposed line would cover assembly, systems integration, manufacturing engineering and local supply-chain development.
DMK and BJP figures criticized Tamil Nadu’s TVK government, arguing it failed to follow up on the opportunity; they pointed to Maharashtra’s land allotment.
Industries Minister S. Keerthana said projects cited by the opposition had already been committed elsewhere under the previous DMK government.
- Who
- Mahindra Group and Embraer identified Nagpur as a potential site; Tamil Nadu opposition parties criticized the TVK government.
- What
- A proposed C-390 Millennium final assembly line in India, conditional on the aircraft being selected for the Indian Air Force programme.
- When
- The announcement was reported while the TVK administration had been in office since May; no specific announcement date is stated.
- Where
- Nagpur, Maharashtra, is the potential site; Tamil Nadu locations Sulur and Hosur had previously been showcased to Embraer.
- Why
- The companies cited Maharashtra’s support, including expeditious land allotment; the articles do not specify other reasons for preferring Nagpur.
Critics of the TVK government
TVK government response
Responsibility for the potential site going to Maharashtra
Critics of the TVK government
DMK and BJP figures said Tamil Nadu had aerospace capabilities and that the TVK government failed to pursue the project effectively; they cited Maharashtra’s quick land allotment.
TVK government response
Industries Minister S. Keerthana said the projects being cited by opponents had already been committed to other states through agreements made under the previous DMK government.
Whether Tamil Nadu has recently lost investment projects
Critics of the TVK government
Opposition figures cite the C-390 proposal and other industrial plans as evidence that Tamil Nadu is losing opportunities.
TVK government response
Keerthana has maintained that no investment project has left Tamil Nadu since the administration took office in May, and alleged that the previous DMK government lost major projects because of delays and demands for commissions.
- Companies
- Mahindra Group and Embraer
- Potential assembly-line site
- Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Aircraft
- C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft
- Condition
- The facility depends on the aircraft being selected for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
- Air Force requirement
- The IAF is seeking 60 aircraft to replace ageing An-32s and some Il-76s.
- Proposed facility work
- Aircraft assembly, systems integration, manufacturing engineering and local supply-chain development.
- Tamil Nadu sites previously showcased
- Sulur and Hosur