India’s Return to Civil Aircraft Manufacturing Takes Flight with the SJ-100

India’s Return to Civil Aircraft Manufacturing Takes Flight with the SJ-100

It began with a curious sighting at a Russian airfield that caught the attention of aviation enthusiasts and industry watchers alike: a Sukhoi SJ-100 regional jet, resplendent with the Indian national flag and the iconic Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) logo, parked under the wintry skies of Zhukovsky near Moscow. The aircraft, a variant of the well-known Russian Superjet 100, was dressed in special livery — an unmistakable visual message that something significant was afoot between Delhi and Moscow.

The aircraft in question is not a fighter jet or a secret prototype, but a twin-engine, narrow-body regional aircraft originally developed as the Sukhoi Superjet 100 by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, later the Yakovlev SJ-100 after corporate restructuring under Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). It seats roughly 100 passengers and was designed to serve short-haul routes with economic efficiency, comfort and performance. Over 200 of these jets have already been produced and fly with more than a dozen airlines worldwide, from Russia to Mexico and beyond.

What made the Zhukovsky sighting so noteworthy was not merely the presence of Indian branding on a Russian aircraft. Rather, it was the timing and context. The sighting occurred just weeks ahead of Wings India 2026, the country’s premier aerospace exhibition set to take place in Hyderabad, where India’s aviation aspirations — both military and civilian — were already expected to be in the spotlight. Observers saw the HAL logo and Indian flag on the SJ-100 as a symbolic preview of the deepening industrial partnership taking shape between India and Russia in the civil aviation sector.

Underlying this visual was a historic agreement inked in late October 2025 in Moscow. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) — India’s state-owned aerospace powerhouse — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to assemble and eventually manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft in India. This marked the first time in nearly four decades that India would produce a complete passenger aircraft domestically; the last such effort dated back to production of the British-designed Avro HS-748, which HAL built under licence from 1961 until 1988.

For India, the implications are profound. The country’s domestic aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with passenger numbers and regional connectivity schemes expanding rapidly. The Indian government’s UDAN programme — “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik” — aims to link smaller cities with affordable air travel, energising local economies and reducing the logistical barriers of India’s vast geography. A locally produced short-haul jet like the SJ-100 could play a pivotal role in realising this vision. HAL itself has described the aircraft — thanks to its efficiency and flexibility — as a “game changer” for short-haul connectivity in India.

The narrative of the SJ-100 has also evolved significantly. The original Superjet faced challenges over the last decade, including questions about parts supply and operational support. But under its current designation, the SJ-100 has been retooled with Russian-made subsystems and engines (notably the Aviadvigatel PD-8) to reduce reliance on Western components in the face of sanctions and supply chain disruptions.

Beyond the industrial and economic aspects, the sighting of the SJ-100 in Indian colours speaks to broader strategic and diplomatic dimensions. It reflects ongoing cooperation between India and Russia in aerospace — cooperation that spans decades and includes the licensed production of military aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter. Now, that relationship is expanding into commercial aviation manufacturing, aligning with India’s broader goals of self-reliance (“Atmanirbhar Bharat”) in high-technology sectors.

As the jet prepares for its public debut in India, the image of the SJ-100 bearing the Indian flag at a foreign airfield has already taken on symbolic weight. It is more than a photo; it is a visual testament to India’s re-entry into passenger aircraft production, a field long dominated by Western manufacturers, and a hint of ambitions that stretch from bustling regional airports in Rajasthan and Jharkhand to aerospace hubs aspiring to global export footprints.

Only time will tell how widespread production in India might become or how the aircraft performs in Indian skies. But for now, the sight of that painted-up SJ-100 with Indian insignia stands as a milestone — a blend of aviation history, industrial strategy, and international collaboration that could chart a new course for India’s civil aviation story.