Sanctions-hit Russia, which is going for import substitution in a big way, has proposed to manufacture its Sukhoi Superjet civil aircraft in India and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is in talks with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The plan is to manufacture the Superjet in Russia with Russian components and in India, set up manufacturing of Sukhoi Superjet international with foreign components, said Yury B. Slyusar, director general of UAC.
“We offered to the Indian side to assemble the Sukhoi Superjet with foreign-made components here in India in line with international technical specifications… Our plan is to manufacture in Russia with Russian components and in India to set up manufacturing of Sukhoi Superjet international, which can be built very fast…,” Slyusar said, speaking to a few journalists on the sidelines of Aero India last week. “On the request of HAL, we made a presentation and sent it to them and we are awaiting their feedback.”
The Superjet 100 is a 100-seater civil aircraft designed and developed by Sukhoi corporation, which has now been merged into UAC along with MIG corporation. The other major aircraft manufacturing companies, Ilyushin and Tupolev, are also set to be merged with UAC soon. The Superjet could be the first Indian-made civil aircraft, which meets the requirements of national aviation authorities, he noted.
In a related development, last week Air India announced a massive deal for the procurement of 470 civilian aircraft, 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. Separately, India is currently evaluating proposals from three global engine manufacturers — General Electric, Rolls Royce and Safran to co-develop and manufacture a fighter jet engine locally to meet future Indian requirements.