New Delhi: India and Russia under their close strategic relationship have signed an agreement to jointly develop a twin-engine narrow-body civilian aircraft for short-haul flights. State-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed an agreement with the Russian government-controlled Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Cooperation (PJSC-UAC) to manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft. The agreement was signed in Moscow on Monday October 27. First project to manufacture passenger aircraft in India This is the first project to manufacture a passenger aircraft in India. More than 200 SJ-100 aircraft have been built so far and more than 16 commercial airlines are using them. HAL stated that the SJ-100 will be a game-changer for short-haul air travel in India under the UDAN scheme. Under this agreement HAL will have the right to manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft for domestic customers. The agreement was signed in the presence of HAL Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil and PJSC-UAC Director General Vadim Badekha. The UDAN scheme aims to ensure regional air connectivity in India. HAL stated that manufacturing the SJ-100 aircraft in India will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Indian aviation industry.