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HAL and Russia's UAC Partner to Revive India's Passenger Jet Manufacturing
28 Oct
Summary
- HAL signs MoU with Russia's UAC to produce SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India
- Aims to bolster regional connectivity under UDAN Scheme and meet projected demand
- Last time India produced a complete passenger aircraft was HAL's AVRO HS748 in 1961-1988
On October 28, 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia's Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) for the domestic production of the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, as it represents India's return to complete passenger aircraft manufacturing after decades.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft, with more than 200 units already produced and operated by over 16 commercial airline operators globally. Under this arrangement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture the SJ-100 in India, aiming to bolster regional connectivity under the UDAN Scheme and meet the projected demand for over 200 jets in the Indian aviation sector over the next ten years.
This development comes as a game-changer for India's aviation industry, as the last time the country produced a complete passenger aircraft was HAL's AVRO HS748, which was manufactured from 1961 to 1988. The new partnership with Russia's UAC is expected to revive India's capabilities in passenger aircraft production, positioning the country as a key player in the regional connectivity market.
