India and Russia Discuss Joint Production of Passenger Aircraft

New Delhi, September 10 (Daily Kiran) : Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu met with Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, on September 10 to discuss the joint production of civil passenger aircraft. This collaboration aims to address India’s growing demand for regional air connectivity.

Naidu highlighted the significant potential for enhancing bilateral relations, suggesting that India and Russia move beyond traditional buyer-seller dynamics toward deeper industrial cooperation. He emphasized that the partnership is gaining strength, particularly in the aviation sector.

Previously, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed an initial agreement for joint production and support of the Superjet (SJ-100) civil commuter aircraft in India. Discussions regarding localization of this project are reportedly in the final stages.

The proposed agreements also encompass the potential delivery of 105 regional turboprop aircraft for Indian airlines, including Pinnacle Air, Air Kerala, and Sleek Aviation.

At the InnoProm event held in India, Russia showcased its regional aircraft, including the SJ-100, MC-21, and II-114-300, to explore opportunities that meet India’s rapidly expanding regional connectivity needs.

This growing collaboration in the aviation sector comes at a time when Russia seeks to strengthen industrial partnerships with India, moving beyond traditional defense platforms like MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets. The proposed aircraft agreements indicate a promising direction for India-Russia aerospace relations, encompassing civil aviation, regional connectivity, and aircraft manufacturing.

Over 120 companies from both nations are participating in InnoProm India, which runs from September 9 to 11 in New Delhi, ahead of the BRICS summit. Additionally, José Serador Neto, the global head of government relations at Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, met with Naidu to discuss the company’s ‘Make in India’ initiatives and expanding collaboration opportunities.

An official statement noted, “The growing trust of global OEMs in India’s expanding aerospace ecosystem and the increasing reliance on Indian manufacturers as key suppliers in the global aviation supply chain is encouraging.”