Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined a vision for India to build its own civil aircraft, placing commercial aviation manufacturing among the country’s long-term industrial ambitions as the domestic air travel market continues to expand.
The announcement came as the Prime Minister marked 12 years in office, highlighting the next phase of India's aerospace journey after the development of indigenous defence platforms such as the Tejas fighter aircraft and domestically manufactured helicopters.
The proposal comes at a time when India has emerged as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, driven by rising passenger traffic, expanding airline fleets and a growing network of airports across the country.
India's aviation sector has undergone significant expansion over the past decade, supported by government initiatives aimed at improving regional air connectivity.
According to data cited by NDTV, the number of operational airports in India has increased from 74 in 2014 to 164, aided in part by the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
The government has also stated its ambition to expand the airport network further, targeting 350 to 400 airports by 2047, when India marks 100 years of independence.
The scale of this growth is creating long-term demand for aircraft, particularly smaller and medium-capacity planes capable of serving regional routes and emerging aviation hubs.
Key aviation indicators highlighted in the report include:
The vision extends beyond aircraft production and into the broader aerospace supply chain.
According to figures cited in the report, India’s aviation sector currently supports more than 77 lakh jobs, including approximately 3.69 lakh direct jobs.
Industry experts have long noted that aircraft manufacturing can generate economic activity across multiple sectors, including:
A domestic aircraft programme could potentially deepen India's manufacturing capabilities in these areas while reducing dependence on imported aviation equipment.
The announcement also comes against the backdrop of a previously reported agreement involving Russia’s state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
According to NDTV, the partnership involves plans related to the SJ-100 (Sukhoi Superjet) and IL-114-300 aircraft programmes, with manufacturing activity proposed in India.
The report stated that India could potentially deploy around 200 aircraft for domestic operations under the initiative.
While details regarding production timelines, certification requirements and commercial deployment remain limited, the arrangement points to ongoing efforts to establish an aircraft manufacturing base within India.
Despite the ambition, developing a competitive commercial aircraft industry presents substantial technical and regulatory hurdles.
One of the most significant challenges is aircraft propulsion technology.
Industry estimates cited in the report suggest that engines account for 30% to 40% of an aircraft's overall cost, while design, certification and manufacturing expertise remain concentrated among a small number of global suppliers.
Major commercial aircraft engine manufacturers include General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, all of which have decades of experience and extensive certification records.
Beyond engine development, manufacturers must also navigate complex international safety standards, supply chain requirements, maintenance support systems and airline certification processes before aircraft can enter commercial service.
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