Russian aerospace company and aircraft manufacturer Yakovlev has signed a preliminary agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the Wings India 2026 event, ANI reported.
Calling it the start of a major partnership, Alexander Dolotovsky, Deputy General Director of Yakovlev, said a preliminary agreement has been signed with HAL. He said details cannot be shared yet, but the intent is clear.
India-Russia aviation tie takes shape
"We have signed a preliminary agreement with our partners at HAL. While I cannot share specific details of the agreement publicly at this stage, we are at the beginning of a significant deal. We 100% believe that HAL is a responsible and reliable partner," Dolotovsky said.
He said India is a key focus for the company. "We view the Indian aviation sector with great optimism. India is a rapidly growing market that requires significantly more aircraft than are currently in operation. Given that India is one of the world's most populous countries, passenger numbers are expected to surge in the coming years," he added.
On timelines, Dolotovsky said things are still at an early stage. "The information remains confidential and sensitive during these early stages. However, we are confident that our cooperation will be successful and that the first practical results will emerge very soon," he said.
Speaking about long-standing ties, he pointed to the India-Russia relationship. "While the Indian market attracts many global aerospace companies--as evidenced by the high turnout at Wings India - we rely on the deep-rooted history between India and Russia spanning over 60 years. We aim to leverage this partnership to propose a unique deal and a product specifically for this market," Dolotovsky added.
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India's growing aviation ambitions
At the same event, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu spoke about India’s expanding role in global aviation. "India is no longer just flying aircraft; we are designing, building, and leading global aviation. Indian skies are full of infinite possibilities. From market to maker, India's aviation ecosystem is taking a global leadership flight. India represents the wings of 1.5 billion aspirations," he said at the Wings India Excellence Awards.
