New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India.
The agreement, inked in Moscow on 27 October 27 by HAL’s Prabhat Ranjan and UAC’s Oleg Bogomolov, marks a major step toward achieving self-reliance in passenger aircraft manufacturing.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft, with over 200 units already produced and operated by more than 16 commercial airline operators worldwide. HAL stated that the aircraft will play a “game-changing role” in boosting short-haul connectivity under India’s regional UDAN scheme. Under the new arrangement, HAL will hold manufacturing rights for the SJ-100 to serve domestic customers.
“This collaboration between HAL and UAC is built on mutual trust and shared expertise,” HAL said in a statement, adding that this will be the first instance of complete passenger aircraft production in India since the AVRO HS-748 project, which ran from 1961 to 1988.
HAL further noted that the Indian aviation sector is projected to need more than 200 regional jets over the next decade, along with an additional 350 aircraft for the Indian Ocean region to cater to nearby international tourist destinations.
Calling the initiative a milestone, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the MoU as a “landmark step” for India’s civil aviation industry. “The SJ-100 will be a game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN scheme and marks a major stride towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in civil aviation,” he said.
HAL emphasised that the project will not only advance India’s aviation manufacturing capabilities but also create direct and indirect employment opportunities, strengthening both the public and private sectors in the process.
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