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New Delhi: India is set to begin domestic production of passenger aircraft, as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to manufacture the SJ-100 twin-engine regional jet in India.
The agreement was signed in Moscow on Tuesday in the presence of HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr DK Sunil and senior UAC officials, including Director General Vadim Badekha. The MoU was signed by Prabhat Ranjan from HAL and Oleg Bogomolov of PJSC-UAC.
According to HAL, the collaboration is built on "mutual trust" and represents a new chapter in India-Russia cooperation in civil aviation manufacturing. The partnership is also seen as a step towards strengthening India's self-reliance under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body regional aircraft designed for short-haul routes. More than 200 units of the model are already in operation across 16 airlines worldwide. Under the agreement, HAL will have exclusive rights to produce the aircraft domestically for Indian customers.
The aircraft is expected to play a major role in enhancing regional air connectivity under the government's UDAN scheme. Industry estimates suggest India could require over 200 jets of this category in the next decade to meet domestic demand, along with another 350 to serve nearby international routes across the Indian Ocean region.
HAL said that the project is a turning point for India's aviation industry, which has traditionally focused on defence production. "The MoU represents a major step toward indigenous manufacturing of passenger aircraft in India," the company said in a statement.
