Russia Woo India with Local Production of MC-21 and Il-114-300 Aircraft if 200 Aircraft Ordered

As India's aviation sector experiences rapid growth, Russia has presented a compelling proposition to manufacture its commercial aircraft, the MC-21 and Il-114-300, locally within the country.

This comes as major Western manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, have yet to establish final assembly lines in India, despite Indian Airlines being a significant customer for both companies.

Russia's state-owned aerospace conglomerate, Rostec, has proposed various levels of industrial cooperation, ranging from establishing maintenance and service centers to full-fledged assembly lines. The latter would require a substantial order of around 200 aircraft to be economically feasible.

This move by Russia could be seen as strategic, capitalizing on the burgeoning Indian aviation market and the hesitancy of Western companies to commit to local manufacturing.

While Indian Airlines has not yet purchased the MC-21 or Il-114-300, the potential for future orders and the broader need for domestically produced aircraft is clear.

Benefits and Challenges for India​

Local production of Russian aircraft would bring several advantages to India. It could lead to increased self-reliance in the aviation sector, with improved control over maintenance, parts availability, and potential technology transfer. This aligns with India's broader goals of developing its domestic aerospace industry.

However, entering into such an agreement with Russia could also strain India's relationship with Airbus and Boeing, potentially hindering future collaborations and technology sharing with these companies. Balancing the benefits of local production with maintaining strategic partnerships will be a key challenge for India.

Additional Considerations​

Rostec's proposal includes the establishment of training centers for Indian personnel to operate and maintain the Russian aircraft, further solidifying the potential partnership.

Additionally, the Il-114-300 is a turboprop aircraft, which could be particularly well-suited for regional connectivity within India, a key focus area for the government.

The decision to pursue local production of Russian aircraft would represent a significant shift in India's aviation landscape. As the country continues to grow as a major aviation hub, the choices it makes regarding manufacturing partnerships will have long-term implications for its aerospace industry and international relationships.

 

[Varaaah]

What about making your own? Even if it takes time and money, this must happen.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Work with Russia jointly to improve the shortcomings and ask them to share the IPs and all modification, export rights. It will be good to have air crafts manufactured in India. For first 5-7 years assemble them from CKDs then start indigenizing most of the parts. An ecosystem can be created, which will help build full fledged aircraft manufacturing base in India.

 

[Anonymus]

It's very good deal offer by Russian as under UDAN scheme there total 519 routes are operationalised india needs massive amount of aircraft for local air transport even if we take 2 planes per route it has to more than 1000+ aircraft requirement in India with addition of more routes is under consideration.
India should go for this offer if airbus and boing is not interested + with every production we can increase indigenous components in this planes thus it will also helps us in near future in making of big transport planes even for military also.

 

[yogesh]

Reference the article, this looks like a great opportunity for us to establish a manufacturing ecosystem for high value high visibility platforms. It also provides us with the opportunity to create other platforms of different capacities. This is not about comparison between products/platforms but instead about building engineering capabilities, manufacturing capabilities, service centre's, etc. Let's not be too critical and look at the possibilities for larger joint development programs in the future

 

[War is good for business]

It's very good deal offer by Russian as under UDAN scheme there total 519 routes are operationalised india needs massive amount of aircraft for local air transport even if we take 2 planes per route it has to more than 1000+ aircraft requirement in India with addition of more routes is under consideration.
India should go for this offer if airbus and boing is not interested + with every production we can increase indigenous components in this planes thus it will also helps us in near future in making of big transport planes even for military also.

MC-21 is a A320, Boeing 737 category aircraft and is unsuitable for UDAN routes. To certify in India, the P&W 1400G engine needs to be revived and many components where heavier Russian components have been used needs to be replaced.

 

[War is good for business]

What about making your own? Even if it takes time and money, this must happen.

Who will make it? HAL with public money? 1000+ airliners of this size needs to be sold to turn a profit and given that even Airbus is struggling to ramp up the production of A220 as Bombardier was not experienced in mass production of such large airliners, imagine what a new company would face. Airbus and Boeing make fuselages and wings with suppliers to reduce cost and bring in large degrees of economies of scale and specialization, so a similar aircraft made by a small country would be more expensive.

 

[Anonymus]

What about making your own? Even if it takes time and money, this must happen.

ya we are making it RTA 70 and RTA 90 since 2007 still under development and according to this pace you can calculate how much time it will take.
see India has no experience in making transport aircraft we surely need help in this field.

 

[Anant]

Work with Russia jointly to improve the shortcomings and ask them to share the IPs and all modification, export rights. It will be good to have air crafts manufactured in India. For first 5-7 years assemble them from CKDs then start indigenizing most of the parts. An ecosystem can be created, which will help build full fledged aircraft manufacturing base in India.

Doesn't work that way. The Russians will happily grant export rights, but IPR isn't happening. Moreover, the export market for these is very limited due to the fact that most nations have not given these aircraft a operating license.

 

[Anant]

Indian Airlines? That airline hasn't existed since 2011 in an independent manner. Regardless, Air India is not the largest operator for any of these types. The largest operator of the A320 family globally is IndiGo (1,330 aircraft in service or on order), followed by EasyJet (705), Air Asia (592), and so on. Air India ranks 18th on that list of airlines. The largest operator of the Boeing 737 family globally is Southwest Airlines (1574 aircraft in total). Air India, with its various subsidiaries, has 263 aircraft either in service, on order, or retired.

That is not to say Indian airlines (note the lack of capitalisation there) have not placed significant orders. We have well over 1,750 aircraft on order, which is a truly massive number. That should warrant local manufacturing.

Coming to the Russian options, namely the Ilyushin Il-114, Sukhoi Superjet 100, and Yakovlev MC-21, I am more concerned about the fact that most nations do not grant operating licenses to them, which is a combination of sanctions, low orders, and safety concerns.

 

[NSR]

France established two Final Assembly Plants in criminal chinese country.
But India ordered more than china but it did not get any FAPs from France/Airbus annnnnd it speaks volumes about their attitudes towards India/Bharat.
Ditto Boeing but it is looking for a place for manufacturing.

 

[Rajesh]

If the Americans and Europeans are not interested then we definitely need something made here atleast for domestic purpose but Russia needs Indian market more than india in this regards.
1.IL 114-300
2 . MC 21
3.tu 214 can be consider if they give full tot and ip rights with an order of 100-200. Hope West comes forward atleast this time.

 

[Mango_Indian]

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.....Nobody in this world will offer what Russia is offering. Even if we learn how to make the fuselage...this is worth it.

And the MC-21has a 400 aircraft order book with 15/20 deliveries till date with stellar saftey record. This aircraft will come at a 1/3 rd price of a A-320 NEO.

 

[Pink Panther]

What about making your own? Even if it takes time and money, this must happen.

is 100 years wait time good for making one like that, this is a great jet.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Doesn't work that way. The Russians will happily grant export rights, but IPR isn't happening. Moreover, the export market for these is very limited due to the fact that most nations have not given these aircraft a operating license.

May be for larger order or for some other deal along with this you will get IPs as well. This will help us set up infra for designing our own civilian and cargo planes. It can have same multiplier effect that Barak8 had.

 

[Anant]

May be for larger order or for some other deal along with this you will get IPs as well. This will help us set up infra for designing our own civilian and cargo planes. It can have same multiplier effect that Barak8 had.

Sir, IPR would almost certainly not be a thing. Yes, ToT can happen, and the infrastructure to design our own planes can start coming up, but IPR is on a different level entirely.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Sir, IPR would almost certainly not be a thing. Yes, ToT can happen, and the infrastructure to design our own planes can start coming up, but IPR is on a different level entirely.

Lets see if it moves forward or not.

 

[Varaaah]

is 100 years wait time good for making one like that, this is a great jet.

If a seperate ministry for manufacturing is set up, things can speed up.

 

[Varaaah]

ya we are making it RTA 70 and RTA 90 since 2007 still under development and according to this pace you can calculate how much time it will take.
see India has no experience in making transport aircraft we surely need help in this field.

We need help, but not as much as is being claimed. There are lots of skills in the country which are not being used or hurdles are not being removed. A seperate and dedicated Ministry for Manufacturing can overcome these problems and speed up R&D and attract even foreign specialists, just like Google etc. attract Indians.

 

[Varaaah]

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.....Nobody in this world will offer what Russia is offering. Even if we learn how to make the fuselage...this is worth it.

And the MC-21has a 400 aircraft order book with 15/20 deliveries till date with stellar saftey record. This aircraft will come at a 1/3 rd price of a A-320 NEO.

Russia is only offering kits for assembling. Then still you are nowhere regarding technology.