Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) have formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly produce the SJ-100 civil aircraft in India. This historic agreement represents India's renewed capability to manufacture passenger jets domestically for the first time in several decades, aiming to serve regional markets.
The signing ceremony took place in Moscow, with HAL's Prabhat Ranjan and PJSC-UAC's Oleg Bogomolov as signatories, witnessed by senior officials including HAL's CMD and PJSC-UAC's Director General. The twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft already has a global footprint with over 200 units operated by numerous airlines.
This initiative is expected to be a catalyst for Indian aviation, especially under the government’s UDAN Scheme that promotes affordable regional air travel. HAL's rights to manufacture the SJ-100 are expected to enable India to produce its first full passenger aircraft since the AVRO HS748 project ended in 1988, further strengthening the country's aerospace self-reliance.
Industry experts project a need for over 200 aircraft in this segment for regional routes and additional units for international destinations, notably in the Indian Ocean. The collaboration underscores a strategic move toward reducing dependence on imports and boosting indigenous aerospace manufacturing, opening new prospects for India’s aviation growth and regional connectivity.
