From Russia’s UAC’s Superjet-100 and Il-114-300 agreements with HAL and Flamingo Aerospace to Brazil’s Embraer MoU with Adani Aerospace, the event showcased India’s growing ambition to become a self-reliant aerospace giant while strengthening global partnerships.
India Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu inaugurated the summit, highlighting the country’s efforts to build a robust manufacturing ecosystem and expressing confidence that India could emerge as a major exporter of civil aviation products over the next 10 to 12 years.
Indigenous Push: Reviving Civil Manufacturing
With India’s domestic aviation market now the world’s third-largest, the summit stressed the need for homegrown solutions to improve connectivity to tier-two and tier-three cities.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), traditionally focused on defence aircraft and helicopters, presented its expanding civil portfolio, marking a return to civilian aircraft production after decades.
The company showed off projects like the Dhruv New Generation helicopter, the H-228 commuter aircraft and other civil variants, supporting UDAN’s mission for affordable regional connectivity.
The showcase reinforced India’s broader goal of reducing reliance on Western manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus while strengthening domestic capabilities in design, assembly and maintenance.
Indo-Russian Synergy Takes Center Stage
A major highlight was the deepening collaboration between India and Russia, extending long-standing defense ties into civil aviation.
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of Rostec, presented its regional the SJ-100 jet and Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft bdesigned for short airfields, hot-and-high operations and diverse Indian terrain.
Both aircraft made their Indian debut after ferry flights, with the Il-114-300 also featured in live demonstrations.
UAC signed a preliminary agreement with Flamingo Aerospace for the supply of six Il-114-300 aircraft, marking the type’s commercial entry in India and boosting regional connectivity.
In a landmark development, HAL and UAC agreed to jointly produce the Superjet-100 in India. Under the deal, HAL will oversee certification, licensed production, maintenance and sales, while UAC provides technology transfer, facility upgrades and certification support.
The agreements mark a shift from imports to co-production, offering cost-effective solutions for underserved markets and fostering technology transfer and job creation.
Brazil Joins India’s Flight
Complementing the Indo-Russian collaboration, Brazils' Embraer signed an MoU with Adani Defence and Aerospace to develop a regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India.
The partnership focuses on local assembly, supply-chain indigenization, after-sales support and pilot training, potentially leading to a final assembly line for Embraer jets such as the E175 and E195-E2, furthering India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
By combining domestic innovation with strategic international partnerships, India is positioning itself to meet growing demand for regional aircraft and emerge as a global aerospace leader.