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In a major boost to India’s civil aviation manufacturing ambitions, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) to produce the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India. The agreement was signed in Moscow on Monday.
The SJ-100, a twin-engine, narrow-body jet designed for short-haul routes, is already operational with over 200 aircraft in service across 16 commercial airlines worldwide. Under this collaboration, HAL will obtain the rights to manufacture the aircraft for Indian customers, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push for self-reliance in aviation.
According to HAL, this initiative will make the SJ-100 a key enabler of regional air connectivity under the government’s UDAN scheme, which aims to make air travel affordable and accessible to smaller cities.
“This is the first time a complete passenger aircraft will be manufactured in India,” HAL said in a press release. The last such effort was the AVRO HS-748, produced by HAL between 1961 and 1988.
Describing the partnership as a reflection of “mutual trust,” HAL said the MoU represents a major step forward in the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision for the aviation sector. The company estimates that India will require over 200 regional jets over the next decade for domestic operations, in addition to 350 aircraft to serve international routes across the Indian Ocean region.
“The manufacturing of the SJ-100 aircraft marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of India’s aviation industry,” the statement added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the development as a landmark step for India’s civil aviation sector.
“The SJ-100 will be a game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN scheme and marks a major stride towards achieving Atmanirbharta in civil aviation,” he said. “It will be the first complete passenger aircraft to be made in the country since the AVRO era. The project will also strengthen the private sector and create direct and indirect employment opportunities in the aviation industry. Congratulations to HAL and all stakeholders.”
Team BharatShakti
