India and Russia Forge Agreement to Manufacture Sukhoi Superjet 100 Aircraft
In a significant development for India's aviation sector, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively manufacture the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) passenger planes in India.
The agreement, finalized in Moscow, enables HAL to assemble the twin-engine regional jets, marking a major venture in India's civilian aircraft production after nearly four decades. The SJ-100 is designed for short-distance travel and is anticipated to enhance regional air connectivity within India, aligning with the government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiatives.
HAL highlighted in a statement that this collaboration signifies "a new chapter in the history of the Indian aviation industry." The project is expected to enhance the private aerospace sector, create jobs both directly and indirectly, and bolster indigenous production in the civil aviation field.
This strategic move is likely to alter India's standing in the international aviation market, which has been largely controlled by companies such as Boeing and Airbus. To date, over 200 SJ-100 aircraft have been produced worldwide and are in service with more than a dozen airlines.
The partnership also supports India's UDAN scheme, aimed at connecting smaller towns and remote regions with affordable airfare. With an anticipated need for over 200 regional jets in the next ten years, this initiative is seen as timely to cater to future domestic requirements.
The collaboration harks back to HAL's previous involvement in civil aviation with the AVRO HS-748, produced from 1961 to 1988, after which India's commercial fleet became reliant on imports.
Despite Western sanctions on Russia's aerospace sector due to the Ukraine conflict, both countries are intensifying cooperation in high-tech fields, including defense, space, and now civil aviation. Experts view the HAL-UAC alliance as a strategic and economic milestone, broadening India's aviation supply chain and strengthening relations with Moscow.
