Key Highlights
- HAL and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed an MoU in Moscow to produce SJ-100 aircraft.
- HAL to gain rights for manufacturing SJ-100 passenger aircraft for India’s domestic market.
- The collaboration marks the first complete passenger aircraft production in India since 1988.
- The SJ-100 is expected to boost regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme.
- The partnership supports India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in civil aviation.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India. The agreement was formalized in Moscow on October 27, 2025, by Shri Prabhat Ranjan from HAL and Mr. Oleg Bogomolov from UAC, in the presence of HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. D. K. Sunil and UAC Director General Mr. Vadim Badeka.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body passenger aircraft currently operated by more than 16 commercial airlines worldwide, with over 200 aircraft already in service. Through this partnership, HAL aims to enhance India’s regional aviation network by introducing SJ-100 aircraft for short-haul connectivity under the government’s UDAN scheme.
As part of the MoU, HAL will hold the rights to manufacture SJ-100 aircraft for domestic customers. This initiative marks a major milestone in Indian aviation, as it will be the first time a complete passenger aircraft is produced in the country since HAL’s AVRO HS-748 program, which ended in 1988.
Industry estimates suggest that India will require more than 200 regional jets over the next decade to meet domestic connectivity needs. Additionally, around 350 more aircraft are expected to serve nearby international tourist destinations in the Indian Ocean region.
The collaboration between HAL and UAC represents a new chapter in India’s aviation sector, aligning with the national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Apart from boosting local manufacturing, the initiative is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities, strengthening India’s position in the global aviation market.