Hindustan Aerospace Limited (“HAL”), based in India, and United Aircraft Corporation (“UAC”), based in Russia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which HAL will produce the Russian-designed SJ-100 aircraft (formerly the Sukhoi Superjet) in India.This is an interesting step toward India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in commercial aircraft, but doesn’t move the ball forward, and may backfire.
The agreement grants HAL the rights to manufacture the SJ-100 for the Indian market, which is expected to grow given India’s regional airport expansion and need for smaller commercial aircraft.The last commercial aircraft produced in India was the Hawker-Siddley HS748 twin turboprop that HAL manufactured between 1961 and 1988.With this agreement, India will return to a level of participation in commercial aviation that India had achieved nearly four decades ago.
