Russia targets India’s regional market with agreements for up to 105 Il-114-300 aircraft
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Three Indian regional airlines have reportedly signed a deal with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the Ilyushin Il-114 twin-engine turboprop.
United Aircraft Corporation signs deal for its Ilyushin Il-114
Reports in Russia suggested agreements for the Il-114-300 airframe, which is roughly comparable to the Dash 8/Q400 and ATR-72-600 – and which first flew in 1990 – included 50 aircraft for Pinnacle Air, a charter airline based in Delhi.
Sleek Aviation expects 35 of the regional airliners and Air Kerala has signed for 20. The latter is yet to operate any commercial flights, having missed a targeted 2025 launch date.
The agreements were said to have been signed at INNOPROM, a Russian-organised industrial conference being held in Delhi this week.
Local media reported that UAC would also establish a training centre with Sleek Aviation equipped with a full-flight Il-114-300 simulator.
UAC is also reported to be exploring the option of building a joint engineering centre with India.
“India has significant potential for the development of regional air travel, and the Il-114-300 is well suited to expanding the route network and improving transport accessibility,” Russia’s Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Gennady Abramenkov was quoted as saying.
Russia’s troubled aircraft manufacturing industry
Russia’s home-grown aircraft manufacturing industry has a long and difficult history characterised by safety concerns and commercial failures.
Moscow’s war in Ukraine has further deepened the crisis, with few willing customers for Russian-built airframes.
The Il-114 is the post-sanctions variant of the Soviet-origin aircraft. Its development started in 1982, and first flew in March 1990.
The regional turboprop typically comes with a 66-seat baseline capacity. It replaces the ageing Antonov An-24 and An-26s.
Russia’s Aurora, an airline based in the Far East, is expected to be one of the biggest customers for the aircraft with an order for 20 examples. It is not expected to get its first aircraft until 2028.
Russia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turboprops
Last month, Russia said it was delivering the first import-substituted regional Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprops.
Deliveries in 2026 and 2027 are expected to be minimal and come with very tight operating limitations.
According to an announcement by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, the first russified Ilyushin Il-114-300 deliveries have begun.
In June, Russia reissued the type certificate for the Il-114, with Manturov saying at the time that Rostec has modernised almost all of the aircraft’s systems.
