RuAviation

At the Wings India 2026 international airshow, held in Hyderabad from January 28 to 31, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Russia’s Rostec state group) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a joint activity agreement governing cooperation on the production of the SJ-100 regional jet in India, UAC said in a statement.

The agreement was signed by UAC CEO Vadim Badekha and HAL Chairman Dr. D.K. Sunil. The signing ceremony was attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gennady Abramenkov, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov, Russia’s Trade Representative Andrey Sobolev, and Dmitry Kopytsov, Head of Aircraft Certification at Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya).

Framework for Licensed Production and Certification Support

The agreement establishes a framework for further cooperation aimed at setting up licensed production of the SJ-100 in India. Under the arrangement, HAL will support the certification and type validation of the SJ-100 for the Indian market and will receive a license to manufacture and sell the Superjet, including components, assemblies, and spare parts for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

UAC will support HAL in organizing and upgrading production facilities, providing engineering consultations, design services, and technical expertise. The document also lays the groundwork for a subsequent master agreement, which is expected to define a detailed roadmap, timelines, financial parameters, and the allocation of responsibilities between the parties.

Competitive Context: Embraer–Adani Partnership

Against the backdrop of the Russian–Indian partnership, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and India’s Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on January 27 to establish an E-Jets final assembly line (FAL) in India and to develop a regional aircraft ecosystem. The agreement covers production localization, supply chains, after-sales support, and pilot training.

The MoU предусматривает phased growth of Indian content, with the first locally assembled aircraft potentially entering service within five years. The signing took place in New Delhi in the presence of India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu. Details on investment volumes, production sites, and timelines are expected to be finalized in the coming months.

In December 2025, Adani Aerospace had already signed an earlier MoU with Embraer in Brazil covering a final assembly line for regional aircraft in the 70–146 seat segment. The January 2026 agreement significantly expands the scope of cooperation, adding local supply chains, MRO capabilities, crew and maintenance personnel training, and export potential. A comparison of the two documents highlights differences in both status and scale: the December MoU was largely framework-based, signed outside India and without government participation, while the January agreement is strategic in nature, backed by ministerial involvement and broad public visibility.

Market Outlook and Strategic Implications

India’s civil aviation market, with a projected fleet exceeding 1,800 aircraft, creates a substantial opportunity for regional aircraft manufacturers, particularly on subsidized regional routes under the UDAN connectivity program. Demand is concentrated in the 80–150 seat segment. Embraer already operates around 50 aircraft of various types in India, giving it an advantage in local support and marketing.

Local assembly and an expanded industrial footprint increase the likelihood of integration into India’s national aviation policy and encourage airline participation in domestically assembled aircraft programs. The Russian SJ-100 proposal combines licensed production, certification support, phased localization, and government backing. This approach is designed to enable independent industrial assimilation of the aircraft in India while accelerating HAL’s capability development in operations, personnel training, and technical maintenance.