On 28 October 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Moscow to jointly produce the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body passenger aircraft already in service with over 16 airlines worldwide, with more than 200 units produced globally.
This collaboration builds on the long-standing India–Russia aerospace partnership and aims to meet India’s rising demand for regional jets, projected to exceed 200 aircraft in the next decade, plus another 350 for the Indian Ocean region and nearby tourist destinations.
This marks the first complete passenger aircraft production in India since the AVRO HS-748 programme (1961–1988). The SJ-100, to be built for India’s domestic market, will enhance short-haul air connectivity under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
