Embraer taps HAL, Tata for defence aircraft mfg

Embraer Defense & Security is in talks with five Indian entities, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Tata group, to manufacture defence transport aircraft in India, a top executive at the Brazilian plane maker said.

- Naman Suri & Mihir Mishra

The company hopes to finalize and announce its partner by the end of this year.

“It is important to say we are watching a lot what those big players are doing here in India; we are learning from them; and we are in touch with them as well. We are talking to four or five companies to discuss the MTA (Medium Transport Aircraft) programme, and these companies are from both the government and private sector," João Bosco da Costa Junior, president and chief executive, Embraer Defense & Security, said in an interview.