New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is moving closer to finalising agreements with Indian partners for its IL-114-300 regional turboprop and SJ-100 passenger aircraft, as Moscow seeks to expand its presence in India's growing civil aviation market.
The developments come during the first INNOPROM.India industrial exhibition being held in New Delhi from September 9 to 11. The event is taking place alongside the 18th BRICS Summit and has brought Russian companies to India to showcase products and explore opportunities for industrial cooperation. UAC, part of Russia's Rostec state corporation, is presenting three passenger aircraft in India - the IL-114-300, SJ-100 and MC-21. The company is positioning the aircraft for different segments of India's aviation market, including regional connectivity and routes between larger cities and smaller centres.
The IL-114-300 is a regional turboprop designed to operate from smaller airports and airfields with limited infrastructure. UAC is seeking to use the aircraft for routes connecting underserved cities and towns, particularly under India's regional connectivity programme. UAC has already made progress towards an agreement involving the IL-114-300. The company said it had reached a series of agreements following discussions that began at the Wings India aviation exhibition earlier this year, and these agreements are expected to be signed during INNOPROM.India.
In January, UAC and Hyderabad-based Flamingo Aerospace signed a framework agreement for the supply of six IL-114-300 aircraft. The aircraft are intended for regional operations and could be used to connect smaller and underserved destinations. The other major focus is the SJ-100, a short-range narrow-body passenger aircraft capable of carrying up to 103 passengers. Russia is seeking to go beyond simply selling the aircraft to India and is instead proposing local production through a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). UAC and HAL signed a cooperation agreement earlier this year that is expected to form the basis for licensed production of the SJ-100 in India. Under the proposed arrangement, HAL would receive rights to manufacture and sell the aircraft, along with assemblies, parts and components needed for maintenance and repairs.
UAC chief executive Vadim Badekha said more than 80% of the licensing agreement for SJ-100 production in India has already been finalised. The remaining work is expected to be completed soon. The Russian company also expects to sign a contract with the first Indian operator of the SJ-100 at Aero India 2027. The proposed localisation of SJ-100 production is part of a broader effort to deepen India-Russia industrial cooperation and support domestic manufacturing. UAC has said production in India could eventually reach 20 to 40 aircraft annually, while discussions are also underway regarding the potential localisation of IL-114-300 production. The SJ-100 is being positioned for routes connecting major cities with smaller regional centres. The IL-114-300, meanwhile, is aimed at shorter regional routes and airports where larger aircraft may not be suitable.
The third aircraft being showcased, the MC-21, belongs to a larger segment of the passenger aviation market. It is designed for medium-range routes and is intended to compete with aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 family. UAC's push comes as India works to expand regional air connectivity and develop aviation infrastructure across the country. The company believes its aircraft could support the country's efforts to connect smaller cities and airports while also creating opportunities for local manufacturing, maintenance and technical support. The Russian aviation industry has been attempting to strengthen its domestic aircraft manufacturing capabilities after losing access to several Western aerospace components and technologies following the Ukraine conflict. The SJ-100 and IL-114-300 are part of Russia's effort to rely more heavily on domestically produced systems and components.
For India, the proposed deals could provide an opportunity to expand cooperation with Russia beyond the traditional areas of defence and energy. Local aircraft production and maintenance could also create opportunities for technology transfer and manufacturing partnerships. The aircraft discussions are taking place as India and Russia seek to strengthen broader economic and industrial ties. With INNOPROM.India being held alongside the BRICS Summit, the event is providing a platform for both sides to explore new areas of cooperation. While the proposed agreements mark progress, several of the arrangements are still under negotiation and are yet to be formally concluded. UAC has indicated that further agreements related to the IL-114-300 are expected during the ongoing exhibition, while the SJ-100 licensing deal is expected to be signed at a later stage.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.