Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the production of SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India. The agreement was signed in Moscow on 27 October 2025 by Shri Prabhat Ranjan of HAL and Mr Oleg Bogomolov of UAC, in the presence of Dr D. K. Sunil, CMD, HAL, and Mr Vadim Badeka, Director General, UAC.

The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft, with over 200 units already in operation across 16 global airlines. HAL will hold the rights to manufacture the aircraft for domestic customers, making it the first full-scale passenger aircraft to be produced in India since the AVRO HS-748 programme (1961–1988).

The collaboration is expected to boost regional air connectivity under India’s UDAN Scheme and advance the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Industry estimates indicate a requirement of more than 200 jets in this category for domestic routes over the next decade, along with an additional 350 for nearby international destinations.

The project is set to create significant employment opportunities and strengthen India’s civil aviation ecosystem.