UAC and HAL finalised the deal on SJ-100 production with the signing of an agreement on joint activities.
Under the agreement, HAL will help UAC with validation of the jet's type certificate for the Indian market, while UAC will provide expert consulting, design assistance and staff to help HAL set up production lines for airframes, assemblies, components and maintenance and repair.
HAL will also receive a license to produce and sell the SJ-100, a modern twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft seating up to 100 passengers designed for short- to medium-haul routes.
The signing sets the stage for a forthcoming master agreement which will define the project’s roadmap, timelines, financial framework and division of responsibilities between the two companies.
The partnership revives full-scale civil aircraft production in India after nearly four decades since the Avro HS-748 ceased production in 1988.
The SJ-100, an update of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 with improved domesticall-produced Russian parts, offers fuel efficiency, fly-by-wire controls and adaptability to shorter runways — ideal for India's booming regional connectivity needs.