AI Generated Summary
- The planned facelift of the Embraer VIP fleet marks both an investment in the IAF’s operational readiness and a signal of India’s growing engagement with global aerospace players—two decades after these Brazilian-built jets first touched down on Indian soil.
- The company has established an Indian subsidiary, is exploring opportunities for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, and has teamed up with Mahindra Defence Systems to bid for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme.
- The work will include a total overhaul of both the cockpit and the passenger cabin, with new internal panels, polished surfaces, and fully replaced furnishings, upholstery, curtains, shades, and flooring.
After nearly 20 years in service, the Indian Air Force’s fleet of Embraer-135 business jets—tasked with ferrying the country’s top civilian and military leadership—is set for a full-scale refurbishment.
The ambitious project will see each aircraft repainted and comprehensively upgraded, inside and out. The work will include a total overhaul of both the cockpit and the passenger cabin, with new internal panels, polished surfaces, and fully replaced furnishings, upholstery, curtains, shades, and flooring.
According to officials, only one jet will be taken out of service at a time to ensure that the remaining three remain operational. Each aircraft is expected to take roughly five months to refurbish, with the entire process set to wrap up within two years. A Gurugram-based aviation firm has been contracted for the work.
The four Embraer jets, based with the Air Headquarters Communications Squadron at Palam in New Delhi, have been in IAF service since September 2005. Bearing the call signs Meghdoot, Vayudoot, Nabhdoot, and Gagandoot, these twin-engine aircraft replaced the British-built HS-748 Avro and can fly up to 7,500 kilometres with a 14-passenger capacity. They are routinely deployed for official travel by high-ranking government and defence leaders.
The squadron also operates two Boeing 777s for the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister, three Boeing 737 Business Jets, and six modified Mi-17 helicopters. The Border Security Force’s air wing also fields one Embraer-135 for the Ministry of Home Affairs, which similarly replaced its Avro.
Beyond VIP transport, the Embraer platform has played a critical role in airborne surveillance. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has modified three Embraer-135s into Netra Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, equipped with radar domes, advanced navigation systems, and mission consoles. Reports suggest the IAF may soon acquire six pre-owned Embraer-145s for conversion into a more capable AEW variant in partnership with DRDO and the Brazilian manufacturer.
Embraer, which has nearly 50 aircraft of 11 different types currently operating in India, is eyeing deeper ties with the country’s aviation sector. The company has established an Indian subsidiary, is exploring opportunities for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, and has teamed up with Mahindra Defence Systems to bid for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme. If successful, the C-390 Millennium proposal could see up to 80 aircraft assembled locally, complete with technology transfer and long-term MRO support.
The planned facelift of the Embraer VIP fleet marks both an investment in the IAF’s operational readiness and a signal of India’s growing engagement with global aerospace players—two decades after these Brazilian-built jets first touched down on Indian soil.
