Russia is making a big push into India’s civil aviation scene, setting up deals for as many as 105 regional passenger planes. Moscow wants to tighten its aerospace ties with New Delhi, and this comes just ahead of the BRICS Summit.
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) from Russia, under the Rostec group, has inked agreements with Indian aviation companies for IL-114-300 turboprop aircraft. Here’s how the numbers break down: Pinnacle Air’s getting 50, Air Kerala’s looking at up to 20, and Sleek Aviation signed a memorandum for 35 more. These announcements rolled out during the Innoprom India expo in New Delhi, where Russian aircraft makers put their regional jets on display.
India’s really focused on boosting flights between its smaller cities. With new airports popping up in towns across the country, these kinds of planes matter. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu mentioned that the IL-114 and the Sukhoi Superjet 100 are a good fit for improving those regional routes. He didn’t just stop at buying planes—he’s starting talks on building them in India too.
The IL-114-300 runs on turboprop engines, perfect for airports with shorter runways—something you find a lot in smaller Indian towns. These planes let airlines open up routes that bigger jets just can’t serve because there isn’t enough demand.
But all this isn’t set in stone yet. The deals are a mix—some are binding, others are just promises on paper. Whether the planes actually arrive will depend on business negotiations, getting the green light from regulators, finding the money, and whether the airlines can get their regional operations off the ground.
On top of the new aircraft supply, India and Russia are talking about making the SJ-100—the Sukhoi Superjet 100, another regional jet—right here in India. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and UAC already agreed to licensed production and support for the jet. The idea is to eventually build Superjets in India, not just fly them.
This is a new chapter for India-Russia aviation ties. They’ve worked together for decades, but mostly on military planes—think MiGs and Sukhois. Now, the focus is shifting toward civilian aircraft, and the partnership might eventually cover everything from sales to maintenance, training, and manufacturing.
Part of the Sleek Aviation deal includes setting up a new training center with a full-flight simulator—great for turning out the pilots and tech staff all these new planes will need.
There’s some big-picture strategy here. India’s aviation market is booming, and airlines there are placing some of the biggest plane orders in the world. Regional carriers need the right jets for smaller markets, and that’s what Russia is offering. For Russia, India is a great market to tap into, especially as it keeps growing. For India, Russian planes and local assembly offer more choices and help build up homegrown aerospace talent.
These proposals—the 105 planes and talk of building SJ-100s in India—are set to be major topics when leaders meet at the BRICS summit. In the end, though, it’ll come down to whether the early promises turn into firm orders and if the planes really show up on time.
