Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has signed a landmark agreement with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to manufacture the SJ-100, a 100-seat civilian commuter jet, in India—the first complete passenger aircraft to be built domestically since the Avro HS 748 ceased production in 1988. The deal, inked in Moscow on Monday, grants HAL exclusive rights to produce the twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft for the Indian market.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the partnership as a “game changer” for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. “The SJ-100 marks a major stride towards Aatmanirbharta in civil aviation,” he posted on social media. HAL estimates India will need over 200 regional jets in the next decade, plus 350 more for Indian Ocean tourist routes—making the SJ-100 a strategic fit.

The agreement builds on decades of Indo-Russian aerospace collaboration, including HAL’s licensed production of the Su-30MKI fighter. First flown in 2008 as the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the SJ-100 is already in service with over 16 airlines worldwide, with more than 200 units produced. HAL CMD DK Sunil and UAC DG Vadim Badekha formalized the pact, emphasizing “mutual trust” between the organizations.

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The move comes amid Western pressure on India to reduce Russian defense and energy ties due to the Ukraine conflict. However, India maintains it does not recognize unilateral sanctions and views the partnership as vital for self-reliance. The project is expected to boost the private sector, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen India’s aviation manufacturing ecosystem.

With Putin’s expected visit in early December, the SJ-100 deal signals deepening bilateral cooperation. As India’s skies grow busier, this Russian-Indian jet could soon power regional travel—proving that Make in India can soar, even under global turbulence.

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