Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has signed preliminary agreements with two Indian aviation companies for the potential supply of 85 Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft, as Moscow seeks to expand its civil aviation footprint in India and explore wider industrial cooperation.

The agreements were signed during the INNOPROM India exhibition in New Delhi. UAC signed a letter of intent with Pinnacle Air for 50 aircraft, while a memorandum of understanding with Sleek Aviation covers 35 aircraft and includes plans for a training centre equipped with a full-flight simulator.

However, the agreements do not constitute firm aircraft orders. Delivery schedules, maintenance arrangements and commitments to localise components are yet to be finalised. UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said the company expects to sign the first firm contracts before the end of the year.

The development is significant because neither Pinnacle Air nor Sleek Aviation currently operates a scheduled airline. Pinnacle is understood to be a charter helicopter operator involved in aviation consulting and aircraft management, while Sleek Aviation is a Gurugram-based aviation company. Their plans for entering India’s regional airline market remain unclear.

UAC is positioning the 68-seat Il-114-300 as a potential fit for India’s UDAN regional connectivity programme. The aircraft is designed to operate from smaller airfields and short runways, and can also be configured for cargo, mail, medical evacuation and rescue operations.

Beyond aircraft sales, Moscow is seeking a deeper industrial partnership. UAC has indicated that cooperation could eventually extend to maintenance, personnel training, component localisation and potentially the production of Il-114-300 aircraft in India.

The move comes amid Russia’s efforts to develop new markets for its aerospace industry, which has faced Western sanctions, supply-chain disruptions and production delays since the Ukraine war. UAC and Rostec are both under Western sanctions.

Russia is also pursuing a separate proposal to manufacture its SJ-100 regional jet in India in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Negotiations on that project are reportedly around 80 per cent complete.

The proposed aircraft cooperation comes ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi and could mark an expansion of India-Russia aerospace ties beyond defence into regional connectivity, civil aviation and aircraft manufacturing.

Deepak Bhadana

Over the past decade, Deepak Bhadana has built expertise in multimedia storytelling, with a focus on military conflicts, insurgencies, international relations, the defence industry, and occasionally, wildlife and environmental issues.