"Game changer": Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hails SJ-100 project as civil aviation milestone

New Delhi [India], October 28 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday hailed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) for producing the SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India, calling it a major milestone for the country's aviation industry.
In a post on X, Singh said the agreement would boost India's domestic civil aviation manufacturing capabilities and support regional air connectivity.
"In a landmark step for the Indian civil aviation sector, HAL and Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) have signed an MoU for the production of SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India. The SJ-100 will be a game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN Scheme and marks a major stride towards achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' in civil aviation," he wrote.
The Defence Minister said the aircraft would be the first complete passenger plane manufactured in India and added that the programme would also strengthen the private sector.
"SJ-100 will be the first complete passenger aircraft to be made in the country since the AVRO era. The manufacturing will also strengthen the private sector and create direct and indirect jobs in the aviation industry. Congratulations to HAL and other stakeholders," he added.
Earlier in the day, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) signed an MoU to produce for the first time a passenger aircraft, the SJ-100, in India.
The agreement was inked in Moscow on Monday, according to a press release by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
HAL shared details of the signing on X, stating, "HAL and Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) Russia signed an MoU for production of civil commuter aircraft SJ-100 in Moscow, Russia on October 27, 2025."
The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft currently in service with more than 16 commercial airlines.
Over 200 such aircraft have already been produced. Under the new arrangement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture the SJ-100 for India's domestic customers, a move seen as crucial for enhancing short-haul connectivity under the government's UDAN scheme.
This collaboration represents the first time a "complete passenger" aircraft will be produced in India since the AVRO HS-748 project, which began in 1961 and ended in 1988. (ANI)