Brazil Could Buy India’s LCA Tejas If IAF Acquires Embraer C-390 Aircraft! Are Brazilians Hinting At Swap Deal?

India and Brazil have been growing close militarily. As the Brazilian delegation is visiting India, Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and helicopters and the probable sale of Embraer C-390 Millennium to the Indian Air Force (IAF) are on the table.

In recent times, defense deals have been a political decision for India aimed at maximizing the component of Make in India and giving impetus to strategic ties with allies. It will not be a surprise that India might opt for the C-390 Millennium, the latest heavy lifter in the world, which is faster and more efficient than its American counterpart, should Brazil go for the Indian fighter jet ‘LCA Tejas.’

Tejas has been struggling to find foreign buyers despite being operationalized in the IAF and being deployed at the forward bases.

In the ongoing multi-national exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ in India, Tejas has been at the forefront of the new cycle as one of the LCA’s piloted by the IAF Chief Air Marshal AP Singh managed to intercept a Eurofighter in simulated drills. Three Vice Chiefs of the Indian armed forces and the German Air Force Chief flew the fighter jet, marking its arrival on the international scene.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari met the Brazil Air Force Chief Lieutenant-brigadier Marcelo Kantiz Damasceno on September 11.the Brazilian air chief said that the Tejas fighters were an option for the Latin American air force.

“According to our rules, we should have not less than two and not more than three kinds of fighter aircraft. Currently, we have the F-5 and the Gripen, but after 2030, we will need maybe two more kinds as the F-5 goes. So, while the Gripen remains, the Tejas is one of the options for our second or third fighter plane,” he said.

Damasceno will visit the Indian aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore and fly in the LCA.

Reports indicate that Tejas will soon be deployed in operational roles in the northern sector, where it would have to combat Pakistan’s F-16s and China-Pakistan Joint Venture JF-17 should a conflict erupt.

The IAF inducted two squadrons of LCA in 2016. After final operational clearance, the aircraft was deployed in Sulur. The aircraft has now started operating from forward bases and participating in international exercises, reflecting the confidence of the Indian establishment in the indigenous jet.

In 2024, LCA Tejas Mk1A, the advanced variant of the already inducted LCA Mk1, took to the skies, and the IAF placed one of the biggest defense orders for 83+97 of these fighter jets.

IAF, the fourth largest air force in the world, will soon operate around 350 LCAs (Mk-1, Mk-1A and Mk-2 variants). The force has already inducted 32 Mk1 (it has placed an order for 40 Mk-1 jets) and has placed an order for 83+97 of the Mk1A version.

In the coming decade, the IAF, grappling with a shortage of fighter jets, will have the homegrown LCA as the cornerstone of its combat power. The fighter jet will be equipped with Indian-built weapons.

Despite its cost-effectiveness and agility, the fighter jet has failed to win international orders so far. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the skies onboard Tejas, showing his confidence in the homegrown fighter jet. The move aims to boost LCA’s profile as an export product.

Brazil has also been considering Indian-made helicopters and drones as well. “We have seven squadrons of 12 helicopters each, and we are looking for more, perhaps 24 new choppers,” he said. This will include choppers for a new squadron for the Amazon area and for flood relief. “We will consider Indian helicopters,” he added.

For the drones, Brazil is also considering a possible transfer of technology from India.

Brazil’s C-390 For The IAF

Brazil has been pursuing the Medium Transport Aircraft tender for the IAF. Brazilian firm Embraer Defense & Security and Indian company Mahindra join hands to manufacture the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft in India. The IAF is looking to induct 40-80 aircraft in line with the Indian government’s Make in India initiative.

The procurement is expected to involve technology transfer and setting up a manufacturing line in the country for high-level indigenization. Hence, the collaboration between Embraer and Mahindra.

The C-390 Millennium is a multi-mission, twin-engine, jet-powered, tactical transport aircraft. It entered the Brazilian Air Force in 2019.

Embraer is hopeful that the MTA deal will pave the way for joint manufacturing of civil aircraft in India.

The C-390, said the Brazilian air chief, has been operating for five years. It has flown 15,000 hours. “Compared with the C-130 (an American plane noted for its ruggedness), the C-390 is faster and carries at least as much load. We are offering this to India and the MOUs with Mahindra are already done. So far, its serviceability level is over 97 percent,” he said. “The Indian Air Force does need medium transport aircraft,” he added.

Deepening Indo-Brazil Ties

Last year saw a flurry of visits by officials from both countries. In 2023, the Indian defense industry participated in the LAAD (DefExpo) in Rio. Representatives from the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Bharat Dynamics Ltd., Yantra India Ltd., Bharat Electronics, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., and the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos attended the exhibition.

In May 2023, an Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary Anurag Bajpai visited Brazil and met top defense officials. The Brazilian military chief also visited India on a six-day trip.

Brazil is particularly keen on forming a Scorpene club of nations that produce and operate submarines to exchange best practices and technologies. India also operates Scorpene submarines, and a Memorandum of Understanding for Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) ‘s maintenance of the submarines in Brazil could be finalized.

The delegation coming in September will focus on Coastal Systems. It is expected to finalize the acquisition of Offshore Patrol Vessels from MDL. The mid-life refit of its existing submarine fleet in MDL is also on the cards.

Brazil is developing its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, Alvaro Alberto. The submarine, developed as part of a strategic partnership between Brazil and France, is expected to be launched in 2029. And it could equip the submarine with BrahMos-NG systems.

In an interview at the beginning of 2024, Major-Brigadier Rui Chagas Mesquita, Secretary of Brazilian Defence Products, said: “When we look at India, we seek to work together so that we can also jointly develop finished products and use Brazil as a hub for selling these commonly developed products in the Latin American market.”