India to Build Civil Aircraft After 37 Years
India is set to manufacture not only fighter jets but also its own passenger aircraft. The esteemed defense company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), now a Maharatna company, has partnered with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to produce the modern SJ-100 civil aircraft in India.
Partnership and Agreement
The deal was signed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Moscow. HAL was represented by Prabhat Ranjan and UAC by Oleg Bogomolov. This collaboration is expected to impact HAL’s stock performance positively.
Features of SJ-100
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body jet ideal for connecting smaller cities. Over 200 SJ-100 aircraft are operational worldwide, used by more than 16 airlines. With HAL's partnership, the aircraft will be manufactured in India, supporting the UDAN scheme and improving connectivity to tier-2 cities and smaller towns.
Make in India Vision
The last HAL civil aircraft production deal was between 1961 and 1988 for the AVRO HS748. After 37 years, India will once again manufacture a civil aircraft domestically. India is expected to require over 200 regional jets and 350 additional aircraft in the next decade to serve tourism destinations in the Indian Ocean region.
HAL’s Strength
- HAL is expanding from fighter jets to civil aviation.
- The company has 20 production divisions and 9 R&D centers.
- Successfully executed indigenous projects like HTT-40 trainer and LUH helicopter.
- HAL was awarded Maharatna status in 2024.
- Order book stands strong at ₹1,89,300 crore.