NEW DELHI: After being in service for about 20 years, the Indian Air Force’s Embraer-135 business jets that are used for transporting the nation’s top civilian and military leaders are set to undergo a complete facelift.
The works to be undertaken involve complete repainting of the aircraft as well as a total overhaul and refurbishment of the cockpit and the passenger cabin. This will include changing internal fittings and panels, polishing surfaces, and replacing all furnishings, upholstery, curtains, shades, and flooring.
According to sources, one aircraft will be refurbished at a time to ensure that three aircraft are available for operations, sources said. The entire project will be completed within a period of two years, with work on one aircraft expected to take about five months. The IAF has approached a Gurugram-based aviation firm to carry out the work.
The IAF has four Embraer jets that are deployed with the Air Headquarters Communications Squadron base at Palam in New Delhi. The squadron also operates two large Boeing 777 jetliners for use by the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister, three Boeing 737 Business Jets and six modified Mi-17 helicopters.
Manufactured by Brazil, the Embraers entered IAF in September 2005 and are extensively used by top leaders on official visits. These have a range of 7,500 km and a cabin capacity of 14 passengers.
The twin-engine Embraer jet replaced the aged HS-748 Avro twin turboprop engine that was of British origin. Bearing ‘K’ series registration numbers, these aircraft are christened Meghdoot, Vayudoot, Nabhdoot and Gagandoot.
The Air Wing of the Border Security Force (BSF) also has one Embraer-135 on its fleet strength for the Ministry of Home Affairs, which replaced its previous Avro aircraft.
In addition, three Netra Airborne Early Warning aircraft (AEW) used the Embraer-135 as the platform. These were extensively modified by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with an externally mounted overhead radar system, electronic warfare and navigation equipment, and work consoles.
There are also reports that the IAF is acquiring six used Embraer-145 jets for conversion into AEW aircraft by the DRDO in collaboration with Embraer. These would be more advanced and capable variants of the existing Netra.
The Brazilian aerospace major, which manufactures several types of military and civilian aircraft, is looking at expanding its footprint in India. The company has nearly 50 aircraft of 11 different types currently operating in India.
It has established a subsidiary in India to expand its presence in defence, commercial aviation, and business aviation sectors. The company is also exploring opportunities for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India.
Beyond maintenance, the company is also partnering with Mahindra Defence Systems to bid for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program with the C-390 Millennium, potentially involving 40–80 aircraft. This bid includes plans for local assembly, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), and technology transfer, indicating a long-term commitment to India’s aerospace ecosystem.