The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of Russia’s Rostec State Corporation, showcased its lineup of fully Russian-made airliners and signed agreements to supply 85 Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft to Indian carriers during the Innoprom.India exhibition in New Delhi.
At a joint UAC–United Engine Corporation exhibit, the company displayed models of three aircraft: the IL-114-300 turboprop, the SJ-100 short-range turbofan jet, and the MC-21 medium-range airliner, presenting them as potential drivers of growth for India’s aviation sector.
The bigger development came during the exhibition’s business program, where UAC signed a letter of intent with Pinnacle Air for the delivery of 50 Il-114-300 aircraft, and a memorandum of understanding with Sleek Aviation covering 35 aircraft along with the setup of a training center — including a full-flight simulator — at the operator’s facility. Delivery schedules, maintenance terms, and localization commitments for specific aircraft components will be worked out in separate follow-up agreements.
Dmitry Lelikov, Deputy CEO of Rostec State Corporation, said the Il-114-300 is built entirely in Russia, from its avionics to its TV7-117ST-01 engines, calling it a modern and reliable aircraft that has drawn interest both domestically and abroad. He said deploying the aircraft on Indian routes would support the government’s UDAN scheme, which aims to widen access to air travel by opening new regional airports, and noted the aircraft’s potential use beyond passenger transport, including mail, cargo, and medical evacuation operations.
UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said the signings built on groundwork laid at the “Wings of India” exhibition earlier this year, where strong interest from Indian operators first emerged. He said firm contracts are expected to follow before the end of 2026, and that UAC is open to deepening the partnership into an industrial model spanning service, maintenance, personnel training, and eventual localization of Il-114-300 production in India.
Both the aircraft showcase and the signings took place during a special session titled “Partnership Takes Flight: Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat through Regional Aviation Projects,” organized by UAC. Representatives from Indian industry, airlines, and aviation authorities were briefed on a broader concept for using Russian aircraft to expand India’s air connectivity, with emphasis on UAC’s capacity for production localization and after-sales support.
Separately, Badekha noted that talks to localize SJ-100 production with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are also progressing, with more than 80% of the licensing agreement reportedly finalized, and said UAC expects to sign a contract with its first Indian operator for that aircraft at Aero India 2027.
The IL-114-300 received its type certificate in June 2026 and is now in serial production at UAC’s Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant. It is built from domestically produced components, powered by TV7-117ST-01 engines from Rostec’s United Engine Corporation, and designed to operate from short or poorly equipped runways. The SJ-100, which seats up to 103 passengers, uses Russian PD-8 engines and local avionics as part of Russia’s import-substitution efforts, while the MC-21 is powered by PD-14 engines and targets high-traffic passenger routes.
Rostec, whose network spans more than 800 R&D and manufacturing entities across 60 Russian regions, reported consolidated revenue exceeding RUB 4.5 trillion in 2025.
