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Russia and India have taken a major step toward reshaping civil aviation cooperation. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a joint activity agreement that lays the foundation for licensed production of the Superjet-100 (SJ-100) regional jet in India.
The agreement covers certification support, licensing, manufacturing, and long-term industrial cooperation. HAL will assist in certifying the aircraft for Indian operations and receive a license to produce, sell, maintain, and support the SJ-100 locally. In return, UAC will support HAL with technical expertise, production planning, facility modernization, and specialist assistance.
This move is significant for India, which has not produced a civil passenger aircraft domestically since the late 1980s. The Superjet-100 program could mark India’s return to civil aircraft manufacturing while aligning with the “Make in India” initiative and the expansion of regional air connectivity.
For Russia, the deal opens access to one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world and creates a new export and production pathway for a fully import-substituted aircraft platform. With Asia’s demand for regional jets rising, local production in India could give the SJ-100 a strategic edge.
In this video, we break down what the agreement really means, why it matters geopolitically and industrially, and how it could influence the future of regional aviation in India and beyond.
#RussiaIndia #Superjet100 #SJ100 #HAL #UAC #CivilAviation #AviationNews #MakeInIndia #RegionalJets #Geopolitics #Aerospace #AircraftManufacturing #IndianAviation #RussianAviation #AltitudeAddicts
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0:04
United Aircraft Corporation, a
0:06
subsidiary of Russia's state-owned
0:07
Rosstec Corporation and Hindustan
0:10
Aeronautics Limited, India's largest
0:12
state-owned aerospace company, signed a
0:14
joint activity agreement in late January
0:17
2026.
0:19
This agreement establishes the framework
0:21
for licensed production of the Superjet
0:24
100, also known as the SJ 100 regional
0:27
passenger aircraft in India. As Altitude
0:31
Addicts, the YouTube channel producing
0:33
this analysis notes, "The document marks
0:36
the formal beginning of large-scale
0:38
industrial cooperation between two major
0:40
aviation powers and brings years of
0:42
negotiations to a concrete conclusions."
0:46
The signing took place on January 28 at
0:49
the Wings India 2026 International Air
0:52
Show in Hyderabbad.
0:54
The agreement defines a broad
0:56
cooperation mechanism covering
0:58
certification, production and afters
1:00
sales support. Senior representatives
1:03
from both countries were present
1:05
including Russian deputy minister of
1:07
industry and trade Janadi Abramov,
1:10
Russia's ambassador to India, Dennis
1:12
Alapov, Russian trade representative
1:14
Andre Soalev and Dmitri Caposovv, head
1:17
of aircraft certification at
1:19
Rosovvatsia.
1:21
To understand why this agreement
1:23
matters, it is essential to look closely
1:25
at the Superjet 100 itself.
1:28
Designed to carry roughly 90 to 100
1:30
passengers on short and mediumh hall
1:33
routes with high traffic density. It is
1:35
a narrowbody regional jet originally
1:38
conceived as an international program.
1:41
However, geopolitical shifts and
1:43
sanctions forced a deep transformation
1:46
of the aircraft's design and supply
1:48
chain.
1:49
As a result, the modernized variant
1:51
designated SJ100 is now built almost
1:54
entirely with Russian components. It is
1:57
powered by the domestically developed
1:59
PD8 turboan engine which eliminates
2:02
dependence on western suppliers and
2:04
enables uninterrupted serial production
2:07
and export potential.
2:09
Altitude addicts highlights that this
2:11
transformation has turned the SJ 100
2:14
into a strategically autonomous aircraft
2:17
program rather than a partially
2:19
international one.
2:22
At the heart of the agreement is a legal
2:24
and organizational framework that
2:26
supports long-term collaboration between
2:28
UAC and HAL. The document sets out how
2:32
certification, licensing, production and
2:34
maintenance of the SJ 100 will be
2:37
organized within India. This structure
2:40
is designed to support not just assembly
2:42
but a full industrial ecosystem around
2:45
the aircraft.
2:47
Under the agreement, HAL will receive a
2:49
license to produce and sell the SJ 100
2:52
in India. This includes manufacturing
2:55
assemblies and components, final
2:57
aircraft assembly, and the creation of a
3:00
full maintenance, repair, and overhaul
3:02
infrastructure.
3:04
A key element is HAL's commitment to
3:06
support the certification and validation
3:09
of the aircraft's type certificate in
3:11
India, which is mandatory for commercial
3:13
airline operations.
3:16
United Aircraft Corporation in turn will
3:19
assist HAL in setting up and modernizing
3:21
the required production facilities.
3:24
This support includes engineering
3:26
consultation, design services,
3:29
technology transfer, and the deployment
3:31
of Russian specialists to assist with
3:32
training, quality control, and
3:35
production rampup.
3:37
The intent is to ensure stable output
3:39
from the start while allowing local
3:41
content to increase progressively over
3:44
time.
3:45
The joint activity agreement is not the
3:47
final step but an intermediate one. Both
3:51
sides describe it as a bridge toward a
3:54
comprehensive master agreement. That
3:57
future document will define
3:58
implementation schedules, financial
4:01
arrangements and a detailed division of
4:03
responsibilities across all phases of
4:06
the program.
4:07
For India, the importance of this
4:09
initiative is substantial.
4:12
Since the end of licensed assembly of
4:14
the British Avro HS748 in 1988, India
4:19
has not produced a commercial passenger
4:21
aircraft domestically.
4:23
The SJ100 program therefore represents a
4:26
return to civil aircraft manufacturing
4:28
after nearly four decades.
4:31
The partnership also allows HAL,
4:34
traditionally focused on military and
4:36
government aviation, to expand
4:38
meaningfully into the civil aerospace
4:40
sector.
4:41
This aligns with HAL's long-term goal of
4:44
increasing civil aviation to roughly 25%
4:47
of its total revenue in the coming
4:49
decade. As Altitude Addicts observes,
4:52
this marks a structural shift in HAL's
4:55
business model rather than a one-off
4:57
project.
4:59
Local production of the SJ 100 fits
5:02
directly into India's make in India
5:04
initiative and supports the UDAN program
5:06
which aims to improve regional air
5:08
connectivity.
5:10
These policies focus on linking smaller
5:12
cities and remote regions, precisely the
5:15
type of routes where a regional jet of
5:17
this class is most effective.
5:20
The agreement also carries broader
5:22
geopolitical significance.
5:24
Russia and India have a long history of
5:27
aviation cooperation, especially in the
5:30
military domain where HAL has worked
5:32
with Russian partners on fighter
5:34
aircraft production and support. The SJ
5:37
100 deal expands that relationship into
5:40
civil aviation, signaling a more
5:42
diversified and mature strategic
5:44
partnership.
5:46
From Russia's perspective, establishing
5:48
SJ 100 production in India opens access
5:52
to one of the world's fastest growing
5:54
aviation markets. Demand for regional
5:57
aircraft across Asia is rising rapidly
6:00
and local manufacturing reduces
6:02
logistical barriers while improving
6:04
political and commercial resilience.
6:07
Altitude Addicts points out that this
6:09
mirrors Russia's broader strategy of
6:11
anchoring aircraft programs in friendly
6:14
high- growth markets.
6:16
Challenges remain despite the strong
6:19
foundation.
6:20
Certifying a fully import substituted
6:22
aircraft within India's regulatory
6:24
framework will require close
6:26
coordination with aviation authorities.
6:30
HAL must also invest heavily in
6:32
workforce training and facility
6:34
modernization as its experience with
6:36
mass-roduced commercial airliners is
6:38
limited.
6:40
Competition adds another layer of
6:42
complexity.
6:44
Other manufacturers are actively
6:46
exploring India's regional aviation
6:48
market including Embraer which has
6:50
considered local assembly partnerships
6:52
of its own. However, the depth of state
6:56
support on both sides gives the SJ 100
6:59
program a distinctive strategic
7:01
advantage.
7:03
In conclusion, the joint activity
7:05
agreement between UAC and L to produce
7:07
the Superjet 100 in India marks a new
7:10
phase in international aviation
7:12
cooperation.
7:14
It strengthens Russia. India ties,
7:16
supports India's ambition to rebuild a
7:19
domestic civil aerospace industry and
7:21
gives Russian aircraft programs a
7:23
foothold in one of the world's most
7:25
dynamic markets.
7:27
As Altitude Addicts concludes, this is
7:29
not just an aircraft deal, but the
7:32
foundation for a long-term industrial
7:34
partnership with the potential to
7:36
reshape regional aviation across Asia.
7:40
We mainly traveled by passing through
7:42
Tashkant
7:44
and continued from there
7:47
straight here. When Rabbat passes
7:49
through Afghanistan, Pakistan, this
7:51
aircraft is completely imported and
7:54
accordingly all our domestic vionics are
7:56
installed here
8:00
globally. We wanted to make the aircraft
8:02
as similar to the basic aircraft as
8:04
possible so that civilian pilots were as
8:06
comfortable as possible when flying on
8:07
the basic aircraft. Let's say in one
8:10
shift to our board and uh undergo faster
8:14
adaptation to make flights as
8:15
comfortable as possible for yourself.
8:18
And therefore the cockpit as a whole is
8:20
arranged and very similar to the basic
8:22
aircraft. The biggest difference is of
8:25
course the monitors here are wide format
8:27
5 monitors. That's what it has to do
8:28
with the first ones for vertical panel.
8:31
The entire indication is almost
8:33
identical to the base aircraft. The
8:36
biggest difference we got was the
8:37
systems manager slide because it is also
8:40
presented in a wide wide format. There
8:42
we had two separate blocks and old SMS.
8:46
Here we have a new interface, a slightly
8:48
new management philosophy, but we try to
8:51
make it as convenient as possible. We
8:53
still make it as similar to the old one
8:55
as possible according to the philosophy
8:57
of the abbreviation for routting, but we
9:00
are trying to make it much more
9:01
convenient than the old one.
9:03
I have quite a lot of experience in
9:05
operation
9:06
our aircraft in airlines. We understand
9:08
on which routes we operate. What is
9:11
interesting so to speak for our
9:13
customers as carriers from the point of
9:15
view so to speak of receiving the
9:17
greatest so to speak preferences when
9:20
transporting passengers is a salon as
9:22
one for one customer here it is
9:24
completely arranged in the layout of
9:26
stop sajki seats this is a completely
9:28
economycl class step here
9:32
in at the same time it is established
9:35
a newly developed chair crafted by
9:37
Russian companies these chairs are
9:39
already made by techn technology,
9:41
so-called slim so to speak. They don't
9:43
take up very much space in terms of so
9:45
to speak cushions.
9:47
Moreover, the available passenger space
9:49
ensures sufficient comfort during
9:51
travel. When I take a seat there, my
9:53
height is about 180 cm tall.
9:55
There is still sufficient room in front
9:57
of my knees to ensure comfortable
9:58
fitting.
9:59
Comfortable enough and yet it is.
10:01
Economy class is not some kind of
10:02
comfort or anything like that. This
10:04
story called us not.
10:05
There is enough space on our plane. It
10:07
is excluded. There is enough space here
10:08
so to speak for
10:10
passengers of this row and there is
10:11
enough space for the passengers of this
10:13
well if you refer to the salon setting
10:15
accordingly
10:16
the whole thing is already made so to
10:17
speak by Russians
10:18
companies that
10:19
completely so to speak the development
10:21
has already been done in Russia here for
10:23
example is the ass zone yes this is to
10:25
say one of the places where the cabins
10:26
are located the crew who in fact are fed
10:29
with you are fed according to this so to
10:30
speak yes here absolutely means that
10:32
standard equipment is placed which is
10:34
available in all airlines which they can
10:36
rearrange between aircraft This strictly
10:38
speaking is already their equipment so
10:39
to speak. Here we are not establishing
10:41
any so to speak new rules. A practice
10:44
that has been used all over the world
10:45
but an absolutely standard furnace which
10:47
to say appears depending on the
10:49
serviceability of the workplace
10:51
respectively for cooking.
10:53
So
10:53
a table with a sink and coffee makers
10:55
with ovens arranged with precision. The
10:57
layout provides convenience for human
10:58
operations occupying the spot typically
11:00
assigned to a boxing conductor during
11:02
takeoff. as one might say,
11:04
landing as well in the back service area
11:08
toilet.
11:10
In essence, considering the space is
11:12
larger than the plane itself, attention
11:14
should be directed toward the bathroom
11:15
situated at the rear of the plane
11:17
designed specifically for enhanced size
11:20
as commonly noted. What is the
11:21
recommended practice currently
11:22
emphasized?
11:25
can use for passengers so to speak the
11:26
most mobile so to speak restrictions
11:29
but so to speak an important advantage
11:32
at India's international civil aviation
11:34
exhibition our presence was without
11:36
India itself
11:39
we present for the first time in the
11:41
world civil aircraft IL114
11:44
and superf 100 aircraft are currently in
11:48
the final stages of certification
11:51
testing serial deliveries of these
11:53
aircraft will begin this here. By the
11:55
way,
11:57
the Superjet featured here represents
11:59
the very first serial produced aircraft
12:02
soon to be delivered to its airline
12:04
customer, demonstrating progress in
12:07
aviation innovation.
12:10
Of course, the Indian market is a
12:12
priority for us from the international
12:14
markets. This is primarily due to our
12:17
long-term cooperation in the aviation
12:19
industry. This gives us the opportunity
12:22
to talk about
12:26
production opportunities to organize the
12:28
production of the Superjet 1014 aircraft
12:31
at those capacities that are currently
12:33
involved in the production of combat
12:35
aircraft and of course the Indian civil
12:37
air transport market is one of the
12:39
fastest growing markets. There is a
12:41
fierce competition here. All foreign
12:44
manufacturers,
12:45
world companies are present for us.
12:51
Competition is very important today. we
12:53
see that we are not inferior to our
12:55
competitors.
12:57
This aligns with our focus on achieving
12:59
competitiveness both in pricing and
13:02
advanced flight capabilities.
13:05
And of course, a key factor in our
13:08
successful cooperation. Part of the
13:10
organization of production of IL14
13:13
Superjet 100 aircraft in India is the
13:16
fact that these aircraft are completely
13:18
developed and produced in Russia. Our
13:21
cooperation with India will not depend
13:23
on any three parties.
13:25
On the eve of this exhibition,
13:27
skepticism emerged, urging us to
13:29
demonstrate resilience and preparedness.
13:32
The foreign press in the west first of
13:35
all is that discussions that in fact
13:37
half of the components are imported. It
13:40
will arrive on foreign engines. Today we
13:43
are talking about the fact that this is
13:45
not just the world premiere of aircraft.
13:47
This is the world premiere of our
13:49
Russian aviation industry. For the first
13:52
time, we were able to produce these
13:54
aircraft within our country, within our
13:56
industry. Russia is the only country in
13:59
the world where the aviation industry is
14:01
able to fully develop.
14:04
Children are civil aircraft and we see
14:07
the hype around our machines today. We
14:09
have specially opened the hood and
14:11
hatches so that those who doubt can look
14:13
in and they look in try to find
14:20
They do not find foreign name plates.
14:23
But we generally understand such
14:25
excitement. Indeed, such a project in
14:28
the time frame that we were able to
14:30
implement was almost impossible to
14:32
implement. Well, in general, of course,
14:34
it is very important for us that we are
14:37
equal.
14:41
Participation competition winning
14:43
against foreign companies is essential.
14:46
Selling aircraft abroad remains a key
14:49
priority. Ensuring competitiveness is
14:51
our primary focus
14:56
in all markets. Sales abroad are the key
14:59
to the successful implementation of the
15:02
long-term implementation of the program
15:04
that it will live successfully continue
15:07
to transfer income to all of us for many
15:10
years and today.
15:12
The first aircraft that we successfully
15:15
sold abroad from our newly developed
15:17
aircraft is the 114 aircraft. We largely
15:21
coincide with India in terms of
15:23
operating conditions. They have a huge
15:25
number of regional airports. A huge
15:27
number of flights from these regional
15:29
airports. A machine like 114 them is
15:32
simply necessary. Today we made a
15:35
demonstration flight with ours.
15:39
Customers all note the superiority over
15:41
foreign foreign aircraft that are
15:43
operated in India today. And in terms of
15:46
comfort and noise in the cabin and space
15:48
in the cabin, this is also very
15:50
important. And I believe we opened the
15:52
door today for
15:57
there is a very big way on the
15:58
international market for both the IL104
16:01
and for our other civilian aircraft.
16:06
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16:08
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16:11
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16:12
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