The aircraft, developed by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), is at the centre of a phased manufacturing programme that will see India move steadily up the aircraft production value chain. Hyderabad-based Flamingo Aerospace Private Limited has signed a purchase agreement with UAC for six IL-114-300 aircraft, with deliveries planned by 2028. The long-term objective, he said, is full aircraft manufacturing, creating jobs and strengthening the local aerospace supply chain. “The idea is to offer Indian airlines an affordable and competitive aircraft that can support regional connectivity,” Pappula said. Nearly a third of the stalls showcased Indian aircraft component manufacturers, many of them small and medium enterprises supplying everything from structural parts to interiors.