Russia to manufacture civil aircraft SJ-100 in India:HAL signs MoU with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation; currently New Delhi imports 90% of planes

Russia’s SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft will now also be manufactured in India. For this, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has signed an MoU with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC). This could prove to be a game-changer in providing air connectivity to smaller cities. This MoU was signed on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in Moscow. Prabhat Ranjan of HAL and Oleg Bogomolov of PJSC-UAC signed it. This happened in the presence of HAL’s Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil and PJSC-UAC’s Director General Vadim Badeka. The last time a project to build a complete passenger aircraft in India ran from 1961 to 1988. This HAL project was named AVRO HS748. After that, we learned to rely on imports. But now, this tie-up with Russia can reduce India’s dependence on imports. Background of HAL and PJSC-UAC This partnership extends the long-standing Russia-India defense tie-up into the civil sector. HAL will receive the “rights” to manufacture the SJ-100, meaning local production can begin in India. SJ-100 Aircraft: Twin-Engine, Narrow-Body Commuter Plane This plane is perfect for short routes, capable of carrying 75-100 passengers. It is designed for short-haul flights, meaning traveling a distance of 100-500 km. It is already successful in Russia. Over 200 units have been built, and several airlines are using it. Benefits for India: Game-changer for UDAN Scheme HAL states, “SJ-100 will prove to be a game-changer for the UDAN scheme.” This plane is fuel-efficient, and local production will reduce costs. Under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, small cities like Gorakhpur, Deoghar, or Port Blair are being connected. HAL’s CMD D.K. Sunil said, “This MoU will give a new direction to India’s civil aviation.” Russia’s UAC DG Vadim Badekha called it a “strategic partnership.” Financial and Technical Details Financial details are not yet available, but it is estimated that the production cost of SJ-100 will be 20-25 million dollars per unit. Russia will support HAL with design, engine, and assembly. Production Roadmap