New Delhi: India and Russia are moving closer to expanding their cooperation in civil aircraft manufacturing, with the Ilyushin IL-114-300 turboprop and Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) regional jet emerging as key candidates for production in India.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on September 10 that discussions with the Russian side on manufacturing both aircraft in India have been expanded and that New Delhi wants to begin the process at the earliest. He said the two aircraft are particularly suited to India’s regional-connectivity requirements as more airports are being developed across the country.
IL-114 and SJ-100 manufacturing talks gain momentum
The latest development comes amid the ongoing INNOPROM.India exhibition in New Delhi, where Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a Rostec company, is showcasing its civil-aircraft portfolio.
UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said negotiations for localising SJ-100 production in India are more than 80% complete, with the licensing agreement expected to be signed soon through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). UAC has previously indicated that production could eventually reach 20-40 SJ-100 aircraft annually in India.
The India-Russia cooperation on the SJ-100 is not starting from scratch. UAC and HAL signed a cooperation agreement in January 2026 that was intended to pave the way for licensed production of the aircraft in India. The next major step is the formal licensing arrangement and the associated certification and localisation process.
IL-114 also being positioned for Indian production
The IL-114-300, a 68-seat turboprop, is being positioned as an aircraft for India’s regional aviation network, particularly routes linking smaller cities and airports.
UAC says the aircraft is designed to operate from relatively small airfields and short runways, making it potentially suitable for India’s UDAN regional-connectivity programme. The aircraft received its Russian type certificate in June 2026, and serial production has begun at UAC’s Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant.
UAC CEO Badekha has said that Russia expects to finalise agreements for localising IL-114 production in India in the coming months. He indicated that the initial aircraft supplied to Indian operators would be produced in Russia while the localisation programme is established, before Indian production is progressively expanded.
❗️A New Flight Path: Russia & India Discussing Promising Aviation Partnership with SJ-100 Assembly in India – Anton Alikhanov, 🇷🇺 Trade Minister https://t.co/81ecKzniRj pic.twitter.com/7DJicbx2UY
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 10, 2026
India could become a major market
The potential manufacturing programme comes alongside growing Indian interest in the IL-114-300.
UAC has signed preliminary agreements involving 85 IL-114-300 aircraft with Indian entities. These include a letter of intent for 50 aircraft from Pinnacle Air and an MoU with Sleek Aviation for 35 aircraft. The agreements are not yet equivalent to firm purchase orders, with final contracts still to be negotiated.
There have also been earlier discussions involving other Indian companies, indicating that Russia sees India as a potentially significant market for the aircraft.
The IL-114 could therefore serve a dual purpose for Russia: sales to Indian operators in the short term and potential manufacturing/localisation in India over the longer term.
Why the aircraft matter for India
India’s regional aviation market is expanding as the government develops more airports and seeks to connect smaller cities. The IL-114-300 and SJ-100 occupy different but complementary segments.
The IL-114-300 is a turboprop aimed primarily at regional routes and smaller airports, while the SJ-100 is a short-haul regional jet capable of carrying up to 103 passengers. UAC says the SJ-100 is powered by the Russian PD-8 engine and uses domestically produced avionics, landing gear and other systems following Russia’s import-substitution programme.
For India, local production could potentially create opportunities for technology transfer, aerospace-component manufacturing, skilled employment, maintenance and repair capabilities and the development of an indigenous supplier base.
But several challenges remain
Despite the growing momentum, production in India is not yet a done deal.
Both aircraft would require regulatory approvals, certification/validation in India, industrial infrastructure, supply-chain development and a commercially viable production programme. UAC has specifically highlighted the need to validate the IL-114-300’s Russian type certificate in India before deliveries and localisation can proceed.
The SJ-100 also faces a broader challenge because Russia’s aviation industry has been affected by Western sanctions and restrictions on access to certain aerospace components. Russia has responded by replacing foreign systems with domestically produced equipment, but establishing a reliable supply chain and achieving competitive economics remain important issues for any international production programme.
A new chapter in India-Russia aerospace cooperation?
The proposed civil-aircraft manufacturing partnership could mark an important expansion of India-Russia aerospace cooperation beyond the countries’ traditional defence relationship.
For New Delhi, the project fits with the broader ambition of turning India into an aircraft manufacturing and aerospace-services hub, rather than remaining primarily an importer of commercial aircraft.
For Moscow, India offers a large and rapidly expanding aviation market, an established aerospace-industrial base and an opportunity to develop manufacturing partnerships outside traditional markets.
If the proposed agreements and licensing arrangements are completed, India could eventually see both the IL-114-300 and SJ-100 assembled or manufactured domestically. However, it is important to distinguish between the agreements already signed, the licensing deal under negotiation and the larger ambition of full-scale Indian production. The latter will depend on final contracts, certification, technology-transfer terms and the pace of localisation.
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) official announcement on its India aviation plans
Key facts at a glance
| Aircraft | Type | Capacity | Proposed Indian role |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL-114-300 | Regional turboprop | About 68 | Regional connectivity, smaller airports, potential localisation |
| SJ-100 | Regional jet | Up to 103 | Short-haul routes, licensed production with HAL |
| MC-21 | Medium-range jet | Larger segment | Displayed by UAC, but current India talks are focused mainly on IL-114 and SJ-100 |
