In an important move to strengthen India’s civil aviation manufacturing ecosystem, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding 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 inked in Moscow, according to a press release by HAL.
The agreement was signed on Monday in Moscow, the capital of Russia. HAL issued a statement regarding this.
HAL said, "The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, small-sized aircraft. More than 200 aircraft have been manufactured so far, and they are operated by more than 16 airlines."
"The SJ-100 will be a game-changer for short-haul flights under the UDAN scheme in India. Under this agreement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture SJ-100 aircraft for domestic passengers."
HAL stated that this will be the first time in India that a passenger aircraft will be completely manufactured in India. Previously, HAL began manufacturing the Avro HS-748 aircraft in 1961. Its production was discontinued in 1988.
The collaboration is also expected to address India's growing regional aviation demand. Estimates suggest that over the next decade, the country will require more than 200 jets in this category to support regional connectivity and an additional 350 aircraft to serve nearby international tourist destinations.
The agreement with United Aircraft Corporation marks a step towards producing a passenger aircraft in India for the first time, but risks stoking tensions with Western countries trying to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.