Russia expects to conclude a firm contract with India for the supply of Il-114-300 and SJ-100 aircraft within a year. In addition to purchasing finished aircraft, the parties are discussing the possibility of localizing the production of Russian aviation equipment at Indian enterprises. The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Alexey Gruzdev, announced the deal plans following the BRICS ministerial meeting in Jaipur.
According to him, the main task now is to present Russian aircraft to potential customers and move from preliminary negotiations to initial contracts.
We set ourselves the task of reaching a firm contract with India [for the supply of] Il-114-300 and SJ-100 within a year.
The Indian side is also considering the option of organizing production on its territory. As Gruzdev noted, the country has large industrial sites that could potentially be used for the production of Russian aviation equipment. The specific product range and production volumes are to be determined at the next stage of negotiations.
Earlier, OAK Head Vadim Badeha spoke about the potential demand from Indian airlines for 100–200 Il-114-300 and SJ-100 aircraft. This involved not only supplies but also the transfer of production competencies.
In addition to the first potential deliveries, the Russian side is already promoting the MC-21 in India. The large medium-haul aircraft remains the next stage for now, but it is already being considered as part of a broader promotion of Russian civil aviation in the Indian market.