HAL, Russia’s UAC to produce SJ-100 passenger jet in India
New dawn in Indian aviation: In a landmark move for India’s aviation sector, HAL and Russia’s UAC have signed an MoU to jointly produce the SJ-100 civil aircraft in India
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MURALI KUMAR K/THE HINDU
In a significant step for India’s civil aviation industry, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft.
The agreement was signed in Moscow by Prabhat Ranjan from HAL and Oleg Bogomolov from PJSC-UAC. On the occasion, D. K. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, and Vadim Badekha, Director General of PJSC-UAC, were also present.
Big leap for Make in India aviation
According to HAL’s top sources, the aircraft will be manufactured in India, marking a significant milestone for the country’s aviation sector. While specific details of production and localisation are still under discussion, the partnership is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening India’s capability in civil aircraft manufacturing—a domain where the nation has long sought self-reliance.
The decision to forge a partnership for indigenous civilian aircraft manufacturing was taken at the highest level by both governments, sources said.
SJ-100: ready for India’s short-haul routes
The SJ-100, a twin-engine, narrow-body regional jet, is already part of international airlines’ fleets. Over 200 units have reportedly been produced to date and are operated by more than 16 commercial airlines. The SJ-100 is likely to become a game-changer for India’s short-haul connectivity, particularly under the government’s flagship UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which aims to enhance air travel accessibility to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Under this MoU, HAL will hold the rights to manufacture the SJ-100 for domestic customers, marking the first time in decades that a complete passenger aircraft will be produced in India. The last such effort dates to the production of the AVRO HS-748 by HAL, which began in 1961 and concluded in 1988.
India revives aircraft production legacy
Industry experts believe this collaboration will offer a strategic leap toward India’s long-cherished goal of becoming an aviation manufacturing hub. The project is expected not only to boost indigenous manufacturing but also to create a robust ecosystem of suppliers, engineers, and maintenance capabilities—laying the foundation for India’s emergence as a significant player in the global civil aviation market.
The HAL-UAC partnership also symbolises that India is willing to secure its strategic interests, irrespective of the Trump administration’s public anguish over New Delhi’s proximity to Moscow.
Published on October 28, 2025
