New Delhi: India and Russia are expanding their aerospace partnership beyond military aviation, with discussions on joint civil-aircraft manufacturing in India and proposed arrangements involving up to 105 Russian Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft for Indian operators.
The developments came during the inaugural INNOPROM India 2026 industrial trade fair in New Delhi, where Russian aircraft manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is showcasing its Il-114-300 turboprop, SJ-100 regional jet and MC-21 medium-haul airliner.
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UAC has signed agreements covering 85 Il-114-300 aircraft with Indian companies, including 50 aircraft for Pinnacle Air and 35 for Sleek Aviation. A separate proposed arrangement involving Air Kerala could take the overall potential number to 105 aircraft. These arrangements are not yet equivalent to completed firm airline orders.
The 68-seat Il-114-300 is designed for regional operations and is being positioned by Russia as a potential fit for India's expanding regional-connectivity network, including routes linking smaller cities and airports. UAC is also exploring localisation of production and maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in India.
At the same time, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu reviewed progress on India's cooperation with UAC for manufacturing the SJ-100 regional jet in the country.
HAL and UAC signed a cooperation agreement in January 2026 establishing the framework for licensed production of the SJ-100 in India. HAL is expected to receive rights covering manufacturing and related support, while UAC will provide technical and engineering assistance for establishing and upgrading production facilities.
UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said the licensing agreement for localising SJ-100 production was more than 80% complete and could be signed in the near future. UAC has indicated that production in India could eventually reach 20–40 aircraft annually.
HAL has previously estimated that India's aviation sector could require more than 200 aircraft in the SJ-100 category over the next decade, alongside additional demand for aircraft serving the wider Indian Ocean region.
The emerging cooperation marks a notable broadening of India-Russia aerospace relations. For decades, the relationship has been heavily centred on military aviation, including platforms from the MiG and Sukhoi families. The current push introduces a different dimension: civil-aircraft manufacturing, regional connectivity, localisation, MRO and commercial aerospace supply chains.
For India, local production could support the development of a domestic civil-aircraft manufacturing ecosystem and reduce dependence on imported regional aircraft. For Russia, India offers a major and rapidly expanding aviation market where regional connectivity is creating demand for aircraft suited to smaller airports and shorter routes.
INNOPROM India is therefore becoming a platform not only for aircraft sales but for a potentially deeper India-Russia industrial aerospace partnership, linking Russian aircraft technology with India's manufacturing infrastructure and growing domestic aviation demand.
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