HAL signs deal with Russia to build SJ-100 aircraft domestically

New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the domestic production of SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft.

Signed in Moscow on October 27, 2025, the agreement allows HAL to manufacture the twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft for domestic operators, supporting India’s regional connectivity goals under the UDAN scheme.

The SJ-100, already operating with over 200 units across 16 global airlines, will be produced in India for the first time since HAL’s AVRO HS-748, which ceased production in 1988. The collaboration aims to create employment opportunities, boost the private aerospace supply chain, and reinforce India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision in civil aviation manufacturing. Over the next decade, India is projected to require more than 200 jets for regional routes and 350 aircraft for Indian Ocean destinations.

The MoU was signed by Shri Prabhat Ranjan of HAL and Mr. Oleg Bogomolov of PJSC-UAC, witnessed by HAL CMD Dr. D.K. Sunil and UAC Director General Mr. Vadim Badeka. This landmark deal marks a significant step in Indo-Russian aerospace cooperation, reviving India’s passenger aircraft production after decades.

HAL will now gain full rights to manufacture the SJ-100 for domestic customers, enabling faster regional air connectivity and strengthening the domestic aerospace ecosystem. The SJ-100’s entry into India is expected to generate direct and indirect employment while enhancing the manufacturing capabilities of India’s private aerospace sector.