New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s civil aviation manufacturing capabilities, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) for the production of the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India. The agreement was formalised in Moscow on 27 October.
The MoU was signed by Prabhat Ranjan on behalf of HAL and Oleg Bogomolov from PJSC-UAC, in the presence of HAL Chairman and Managing Director D K Sunil and PJSC-UAC Director General Vadim Badekha.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft already operating successfully in global markets, with more than 200 units produced and used by over 16 commercial airlines. Through this agreement, HAL will secure manufacturing rights for the SJ-100 aircraft to cater to India’s domestic aviation market.
HAL described the SJ-100 as a “game changer” for short-haul connectivity under the Government of India’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which aims to make regional air travel affordable and accessible to smaller cities and towns.
This collaboration between HAL and UAC is a significant milestone for Indian aviation, marking the first time a complete passenger aircraft will be manufactured in the country. The last such initiative was HAL’s production of the AVRO HS-748 aircraft, which started in 1961 and continued until 1988.
Industry estimates indicate that India will require more than 200 aircraft in the SJ-100 class over the next decade to strengthen regional connectivity, while an additional 350 are expected to be needed in the Indian Ocean region to serve nearby international and tourist destinations.
HAL stated that the initiative represents a major step towards self-reliance in the civil aviation sector in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The project is expected to encourage private sector involvement, boost indigenous manufacturing, and create substantial employment opportunities across the aviation ecosystem.
The decision to produce the SJ-100 in India is being seen as the beginning of a new era in the nation’s aviation journey, reflecting India’s growing capability in advanced aerospace manufacturing and international collaboration.
BI Bureau
