Commercial aircraft
Concept · NowDesignBuildTestCertificationIn service
Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme (RTA-70 / RTA-90)
The proposed 70–90-seat aircraft aims to support regional connectivity; no full-scale development has been approved.
Plainly put: as of November 2026 the RTA is still a study. No full-scale development has been approved, no SPV has been formed and no prototype exists.
Plainly put: as of November 2026 the RTA is still a study. No full-scale development has been approved, no SPV has been formed and no prototype exists.
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL, part of CSIR) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) began joint work on a roughly 70-seat regional turboprop in 2007, intended to compete with the ATR family. NAL held early engine talks with Pratt & Whitney Canada and General Electric. A proposed cabin was shown at the India Aviation show in Hyderabad in 2010. In December 2010 the government asked NAL to also consider turbofan (jet) engines, so a regional-jet option has existed since then.
After meetings with the science and technology minister in September 2019, NAL was given permission in February 2021 to design a 90-seat airliner, with operations then expected from 2026. In March 2023 NAL director Dr Abhay Pashilkar said the first RTA would cost at least US$2 billion, about US$1 billion of it for full-scale engineering development. He said a project definition phase would run from April to September 2023, ending with a detailed project report for government approval; HAL and government research partners contributed to the conceptual design.
In December 2024 the government proposed an SPV under Section 8 of the Companies Act (a not-for-profit company) to bring public and private partners together. In March 2025 the civil aviation minister, K. Rammohan Naidu, told the Rajya Sabha the SPV would run for five years with the aim of producing aircraft in that period. January 2026 reports said ₹12,511 crore was likely to go to the SPV, mostly for certification, infrastructure and ground testing, including ₹750 crore for an international knowledge partner to help meet FAR-25 (large-aircraft certification) standards. In July 2026 the SPV was still awaiting formal approval.
Setbacks: every published date (operations from 2026; a detailed project report in 2023) has passed without approval for full development. Sources give no official cause.
Related activity: HAL signed an MoU with Russia's UAC to build the SJ-100 jet in India (27 Oct 2025), described as supporting UDAN short-haul connectivity. Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer signed MoUs in January and February 2026 for an E175 final assembly line, described as part of building an RTA ecosystem in India. The link between the RTA and UDAN (India's regional connectivity scheme) is stated as an aim; no formal UDAN commitment to the RTA was found.
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2007 (year only)
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) began joint work on a roughly 70-seat regional turboprop to compete with ATR. Early engine talks were held with Pratt & Whitney Canada and General Electric.
Why it matters: The start of India's long effort to build its own regional airliner.
December 2010 (month only)
The government asked NAL to also consider turbofan engines, so a regional-jet option has existed since.
Why it matters: Left the basic configuration open, which has slowed decisions.
2010 (year only)
A proposed cabin was shown at the India Aviation show in Hyderabad.
Why it matters: Still the only full-size RTA item shown in public.
February 2021 (month only)
After meetings with the science and technology minister in September 2019, NAL was allowed to design a 90-seat airliner, with operations then expected from 2026.
Why it matters: Shifted the study to the RTA-90 size; the 2026 date has since passed.
March 2023 (month only)
NAL director Dr Abhay Pashilkar said the first RTA would cost at least US$2 billion, about half for full-scale engineering. A project definition phase was to run April–September 2023.
Why it matters: First public price tag; the detailed project report has not led to approval.
December 2024 (month only)
The government proposed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under Section 8 of the Companies Act to bring public and private partners together and choose between RTA-90 and a clean-sheet design. Parliament passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, with aircraft design and manufacturing provisions.
Why it matters: Creates a vehicle that private suppliers and foreign partners could join.
March 2025 (month only)
Civil aviation minister K. Rammohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha the SPV would run for five years, aiming to produce aircraft in that period.
Why it matters: A political commitment, but with no approval or funding yet.
27 October 2025
HAL signed an MoU with Russia's UAC to build the SJ-100 jet in India, described as supporting UDAN short-haul connectivity.
Why it matters: A rival route to a locally built regional jet, which may compete with the RTA for funds and attention.
January 2026 (month only)
Reports said about INR 12,511 crore (about US$1.36bn) was likely to go to the SPV, mostly for certification, infrastructure and ground testing, including INR 750 crore for an international knowledge partner for FAR-25 certification.
Why it matters: A foreign certification partner role would be a real opening for international firms; the figure is not confirmed.
January–February 2026
Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer signed MoUs for an E175 final assembly line in India, described as part of building an RTA ecosystem.
Why it matters: Could build the local supply chain an Indian-designed aircraft would later need.
July 2026 (month only)
The SPV was still awaiting formal approval; without it, the programme remains at the pre-development stage.
Why it matters: No full-scale development, prototype or orders exist yet.
No date announced
Formal approval and creation of the SPV, which will choose between the RTA-90 design and a clean-sheet design.
What to watch: approval, the design decision and the knowledge-partner tender.
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The RTA is a study only. Suppliers shown are design partners and early-stage discussions, not contracts; the SPV awaits approval (July 2026).
| Compared item | RTA (India) | ATR 72-600 (France/Italy) | Xi’an MA700 (China) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Concept / study | In service | In development; not certified |
| Seats | 70–90 (RTA-70 / RTA-90) | 72 standard | Up to 86 (78 at 79 cm pitch) |
| Power | Twin turboprop (jet considered since 2010) | 2 × PW127M/N turboprop | Turboprop; PW150C planned, now domestic engine |
| Range | 600–700 km (2026 report) or 1,350 nm (older spec) — conflicting | 758 nm with max passengers | Up to 1,500 km with standard payload |
| Key dates | Work since 2007; 90-seat go-ahead 2021 | — | Programme launch end 2013; first flight reported Sept 2021 (unconfirmed) |
| Main setback | No SPV or development approval yet | — | Canada refused PW150C export licence, 2020 |
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