HAL and Russia’s PJSC-UAC Join Hands to Build SJ-100 Passenger Aircraft in India

HAL and Russia’s PJSC-UAC Join Hands to Build SJ-100 Passenger Aircraft in India

Why in News?

Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s PJSC-United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed an MoU to manufacture the SJ-100 passenger aircraft in India. It is a significant step in Indo–Russian industrial collaboration within the civil aviation sector.

Highlights of the HAL–PJSC-UAC Partnership

• On 27 October 2025, HAL and Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Moscow, Russia, to produce the civil commuter aircraft SJ‑100 in India. 
• The signing was carried out by the HAL representative Shri Prabhat Ranjan and the UAC representative Mr Oleg Bogomolov.
• Under the agreement, HAL gains rights to manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft for India’s domestic market. 
• The collaboration includes licensed production, localisation of components, development of the Indian supply chain, and building of maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) capabilities in India. 
• Under this agreement, HAL will integrate Indian manufacturing into the aircraft’s value‐chain and deliver for domestic Indian customers as well as potentially exports.
• HAL and PJSC-UAC are expected to launch the production phase of the SJ-100 regional jet by mid-2028. The roadmap foresees infrastructure set-up, localisation and preparation over the next few years.
• In upcoming years:
  • Formation of a joint working group will be finalised within 2025-26.
  • Establishment of manufacturing and assembly infrastructure will be completed by 2026–2027.
  • Prototype assembly and certification will be done around 2027-28.
• It is explicitly stated that this will be the first instance of a complete passenger aircraft being manufactured in India since the earlier AVRO HS‑748 programme, which ran from 1961 to 1988.

What is the SJ-100 Passenger Aircraft?

• The SJ-100 Passenger Aircraft, also known as the Superjet 100, is a modern twin-engine regional jet developed by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) through its division Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company. 
• The project of developing SJ-100 was officially launched in 2000 to create a new generation regional aircraft suitable for short and medium-haul routes. 
• The SJ-100 was designed to fill the gap in the 75 to 100-seat category and to compete with popular regional jets like the Embraer E-Jet series and Bombardier CRJ aircraft. 
• The aircraft was rebranded as SJ-100 in 2023 as part of Russia’s domestic aviation localization program.
• Features:
  • The SJ-100 has a low-wing monoplane design with a T-tail configuration that enhances aerodynamic stability during flight.
  • The aircraft is designed for optimal efficiency with a clean aerodynamic profile that lowers drag and improves fuel economy. 
  • The wings are equipped with winglets, which help in reducing fuel consumption and improving climb performance. 
  • The aircraft typically accommodates 87 to 108 passengers, depending on configuration. 
  • The SJ-100 also includes large overhead bins, wider seats, and improved legroom compared to older regional jets.
  • The maximum range of the SJ-100 varies from 3,048 km (1,645 miles) for the base model to about 4,578 kilometers (2,845 miles) for the extended-range version known as the SJ-100LR. 
  • The aircraft cruises at a speed of Mach 0.78, equivalent to approximately 828 kilometers per hour.
  • The SJ-100 is equipped with an advanced fly-by-wire flight control system, replacing traditional mechanical linkages with electronic signals for higher precision and smoother handling. 
  • The aircraft includes advanced weather radar, auto-throttle, and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to ensure pilot situational awareness. 
  • More than 200 SJ-100 aircraft have been produced and are operated by over 16 airlines across countries including Russia, Mexico, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.
  • Airlines appreciate its low operating cost, short turnaround time, and reliable dispatch rate exceeding 97 percent. 

Significance of the HAL–PJSC UAC Partnership

• India’s Aerospace Manufacturing: For decades, India’s aviation sector was primarily focused on defence production, with limited progress in passenger aircraft manufacturing. The new SJ-100 project revives that legacy. It will involve Indian production of major components, sub-assemblies, and avionics, which will strengthen the overall industrial foundation of the Indian aerospace sector.

• Technology Transfer: The transfer of knowledge and expertise in aerostructure design, composite materials usage, and system integration for modern passenger aircraft will enable Indian engineers to work on complex systems that were previously imported. The partnership also promotes large-scale skill development across engineering, assembly, and maintenance domains.

• Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision: This collaboration directly supports the Government of India’s flagship initiatives, “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, by encouraging indigenous production of passenger aircraft. This initiative will integrate domestic vendors into global production systems and create long-term economic value. The project aims to start local production by 2028, which will establish India as a credible player in the global aircraft manufacturing industry.

• Regional Connectivity: India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with an expected passenger growth rate of 6–7 percent annually over the next decade. The introduction of locally manufactured SJ-100 aircraft will support regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik). By manufacturing these aircraft locally, India can meet the increasing demand for regional jets without depending on expensive imports.

• Generating Employment: The long-term benefits of this partnership will include significant employment generation across multiple sectors in India. The establishment of manufacturing facilities, component industries, and maintenance centers will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The project will also enhance India’s export potential by enabling the country to supply SJ-100 aircraft to other Asian and African markets in the future.

India–Russia Cooperation in Aerospace

• In the 1950s, India established close defence and technological relations with the Soviet Union to strengthen its security and industrial base. 
• The Soviet Union supported India in building its early aviation capabilities when Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) began licensed production of Soviet-designed aircraft.
• Models like the MiG-21 fighter jet, introduced into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1963, became the foundation of India’s air power for decades.
• In 1996, India signed another landmark agreement for the production of the Su-30MKI multirole fighter, a symbol of technological cooperation. The Su-30MKI project involved co-design, system integration, and continuous upgrades, making it a cornerstone of India’s modern fighter fleet.
• In the 2000s, India and Russia expanded their cooperation. The partnership with BrahMos Aerospace, was established in 1998. In 2001, the BrahMos missile project was initiated to create the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
• In the 2000s, Russia provided India with its GLONASS satellite navigation technology to augment India’s own NavIC system. They also agreed to set up ground stations to improve accuracy.
• Russian companies collaborated with HAL on the IL-214 Multirole Transport Aircraft project, aiming to design a new generation medium transport jet.