♦ Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly produce the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India.

♦ The agreement was signed in Moscow on 28 October 2025.

♦ The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft currently operated by more than 16 commercial airlines.

♦ Over 200 such aircraft have already been produced globally.

♦ The deal marks the first time a complete passenger aircraft will be produced in India since the AVRO HS-748 programme, which ran from 1961 to 1988.

♦ Under the arrangement, HAL will manufacture the SJ-100 for India’s domestic market — a move aimed at improving short-haul connectivity under the government’s regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN.