HAL Expands Civil Footprint with Yakovlev Partnership

• Wings India 2026 showcased growing global interest in India’s aviation sector, including a Yakovlev–HAL preliminary agreement
• India is emerging as a global leader in aviation design and manufacturing, the Civil Aviation Minister said
• Telangana aims to become a major aero-engine and MRO hub by 2047

The country’s largest civil aviation event Wings India 2026 showed multiple important developments which proved that international interest in India’s rapidly expanding aviation industry had increased.

The announcement included a first contract between Russian aerospace firm Yakovlev and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which would start their prospective partnership.

Yakovlev Deputy General Director Alexander Dolotovsky explained that the first step of the agreement had been completed but all particulars of the deal remained secret at this time.

He said, “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”.

"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.

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He explained that both project timelines and technical details should be treated as sensitive information during initial project stages yet he believed that the partnership would achieve visible results shortly.

Dolotovsky explained that Yakovlev uses India-Russia partnership history which spans six decades to develop customized products and partnership models that meet Indian market needs, even as international aerospace companies pursue business prospects in India.

The Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu spoke to delegates at the Wings India Excellence Awards about India's evolution from an aviation technology consumer to its present status as a worldwide leader in aircraft design and production.

The country has advanced beyond its previous capability to operate airplanes because its 1.5 billion people and developing domestic market demand have driven India to create and develop the future of international aviation.

The state of Telangana presented its plans to develop its aviation industry. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented a comprehensive strategy which aims to establish Telangana as the top aero-engine production and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) center by the year 2047, which will strengthen the state's position as a vital driver of India's aviation industry expansion.