Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has outlined a potential timeline for assembling its E175 regional jets in India, with production possibly beginning as early as 2028. The plan, however, is contingent on securing at least 200 aircraft orders, according to CEO Francisco Gomes Neto, who spoke to Reuters in a recent interview.

Strategic Partnership with Adani Group

Earlier this year, Embraer and India’s Adani Group announced a memorandum of understanding to establish a final assembly line for the Brazilian firm’s first-generation jetliners in India. This partnership represents a major step for the Indian government, which has been pushing for local manufacturing of aircraft to boost domestic industry and reduce reliance on imports.

“Of course, we will not start a significant investment without orders. That’s the first point, we need the orders. And what we’re saying is this: to set up an assembly line, we need at least 200 aircraft to be produced there,” Gomes Neto said. If orders are secured by the end of 2026, the company would be able to start delivering planes in 2028, he added.

Operational and Strategic Implications

Gomes Neto noted that Embraer has identified at least 1,800 Indian routes that could be operated by the E1 series of jets, which seat up to 88 people. These aircraft are vital to U.S. regional aviation but have struggled to find demand in other markets in recent years.

“It’s roughly 24 months, which we believe is enough to begin making it happen. They know that, it’s clear to us,” the CEO said. The move to India would allow Embraer to expand its production capabilities and free up its hybrid line in Brazil for orders of the newer E2 family, which has seen strong global demand.

Embraer, which initially aimed to reach 100 commercial aircraft deliveries in a single year in 2028, now sees a realistic chance of hitting that milestone in 2027, according to Gomes Neto.

Shift in Focus from Saudi Arabia

Embraer had previously targeted Saudi Arabia as a potential market for its C-390 military cargo jet. However, Gomes Neto said the company has shifted its focus, with India and the United States now being its top priorities.

Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the United States had been labeled as “strategic markets” for Embraer’s defense unit in 2024, but Gomes Neto said prospects for an order from the Middle Eastern country have dimmed. “It continues to be a business front, but it’s not in the hotspot for us right now,” he said.

Embraer had hoped to replace Saudi Arabia’s aging fleet of Lockheed Martin’s C-130s. In 2023, when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the country, it signed a deal with SAMI, which has the backing of Saudi public wealth fund PIF, to explore a potential C-390 assembly line there.

“We have a good product there, but I believe they had the vision of having a larger aircraft,” Gomes Neto said. “It’s still on our radar, but no longer in the hotspot.”

Embraer has also partnered with Mahindra in India on the C-390 military cargo jet, calling the country a “strategic market” for its defense unit. This collaboration highlights India’s growing importance in Embraer’s global strategy.

The potential assembly line in India could have significant implications for the country’s aviation industry, potentially creating jobs and boosting local manufacturing. For Embraer, it represents a geographic expansion that could help the company meet rising global demand for regional aircraft.

With the target of securing 200 orders by the end of 2026, the timeline for production is now set for 2028, assuming the necessary commitments are met. Analysts are closely watching the development, as it could mark a turning point in India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities.