HAL signs MoU to build SJ-100 passenger aircraft with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation for the joint production of the civil commuter aircraft SJ-100 in Moscow, Russia. The collaboration marks a major milestone for India’s aviation industry as it moves toward manufacturing an entire passenger aircraft within the country.

According to HAL’s statement, the agreement was signed by Prabhat Ranjan from HAL and Oleg Bogomolov from PJSC UAC in the presence of D K Sunil, CMD of HAL, and Vadim Badeka, Director General of PJSC UAC. The two sides discussed potential cooperation in design, production, and future technology transfer to strengthen India’s domestic aircraft manufacturing ecosystem.

The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body passenger aircraft designed for short to medium-haul routes. HAL said that over 200 of these aircraft have already been built and are currently operated by more than 16 commercial airlines worldwide. The aircraft is known for its fuel efficiency, comfortable seating, and reliability, making it suitable for India’s growing demand for regional and short-distance air travel.

“SJ-100 will be the game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN Scheme in India. Under this arrangement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture SJ-100,” HAL said in the statement.

This will be the first time in India’s history that a complete passenger aircraft is produced domestically. The last such effort by HAL was the AVRO HS748 project, which started in 1961 and concluded in 1988. HAL estimates that India will require over 200 jets of this category in the next decade, along with 350 more for the Indian Ocean region to connect nearby international destinations and support tourism growth.