By Kavita Mistry 
India is set to enter a new era in civil aviation with HAL partnering with Russia’s PJSC-United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to produce the SJ-100 commuter aircraft. The MoU was signed in Moscow on October 27, 2025, marking the first-ever passenger aircraft production project in India. Over 200 SJ-100s are already operational globally, serving 16 airline operators.
This collaboration signifies India’s growing strategic and industrial ties with Russia and reflects HAL’s expanding role beyond defense manufacturing. HAL’s CMD DK Sunil and UAC’s Director General Vadim Badekha witnessed the signing, underlining the project’s strategic importance.
Boost to UDAN and Regional Connectivity
The SJ-100 is expected to be a game changer for short-haul routes under India’s UDAN scheme, which focuses on improving regional air connectivity. HAL will have the rights to manufacture the aircraft for domestic customers, ensuring that smaller towns and tier-2 cities benefit from improved air links.
HAL stated that India would need 200 jets in this category over the next decade for domestic routes and another 350 for the Indian Ocean region, serving tourist destinations and nearby international hubs.
Strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Job Creation
The SJ-100 manufacturing initiative aligns perfectly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, emphasizing self-reliance in advanced technology sectors. HAL said the project would create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen India’s private aerospace ecosystem, and lay the foundation for future civil aviation manufacturing.
This collaboration also revives HAL’s legacy in civil aviation—the last passenger aircraft it built was the AVRO HS-748, produced between 1961 and 1988 for the Indian Air Force.
Complete List of Key Details
- Aircraft model: SJ-100 (twin-engine narrow-body)
- Partners: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and PJSC-UAC, Russia
- MoU signed: October 27, 2025, Moscow
- Purpose: Manufacture passenger aircraft in India for domestic and regional markets
- Relevance: Supports UDAN, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, job creation, and regional air connectivity
- Previous aircraft by HAL: AVRO HS-748 (1961–1988)