Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has signed an MoU with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) to manufacture the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India.

The agreement, finalised in Moscow, allows HAL to produce the twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft, designed for short-haul flights, for Indian customers. With over 200 SJ-100s already in service with 16 global airlines, this collaboration aims to enhance regional air connectivity under the Indian government’s UDAN Scheme, which seeks to improve affordable air travel to smaller cities.

Notably, this will mark the first time a complete passenger aircraft is produced in India, a milestone not seen since the AVRO HS-748 project, which concluded in 1988. The initiative strengthens India’s aviation industry and supports the country’s push for self-reliance in aircraft manufacturing.