NewsGate Press Network

Remember the days when HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) was producing AVRO HS passenger aircrafts, an era that began in 1961 and ended in 1988.

Now once again a similar step has been taken.

On Tuesday the 28th of October 2025, India’s HAL sealed a pact with Russian public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation to produce the SJ-100  a twin-engine, narrow-body passenger aircraft.

Announcing this in a social media post the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said “In a landmark step for the Indian civil aviation sector, HAL and PJSC-UAC have signed an MoU for the production of SJ-100 civil commuter aircraft in India” adding that it is going t be a major milestone for country’s aviation industry.

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,” the Defence Minister added

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.