NEW DELHI: In a significant step towards building the country’s first indigenously designed light transport aircraft, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), India’s premier research and development agency for aviation, has completed the design phase of the 19-seater Saras MkII aircraft.Announcing the development in a post on X, space, science and technology minister Jitendra Singh called it a milestone for India’s indigenous aviation programme. Singh said, “Breaking News from the Ministry of Science & Technology. India achieves a milestone breakthrough in the aviation sector... CSIR-NAL Bengaluru has wrapped up the design phase of the 19-seater Saras MkII, a testament to India’s growing prowess in indigenous aircraft development.

”The light transport aircraft, which can ideally serve smaller airports and reach India’s hinterland, had earlier undergone wind tunnel testing and preliminary designing of all the systems. “This milestone reinforces PM Narendra Modi ji’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and accelerates the UDAN initiative, enhancing connectivity to remote and high-altitude regions with homegrown technology,” Singh further said.Earlier, the science and technology ministry said that SARAS MkII marks only the beginning, as India needs to conceive and build larger aircraft in the long run to meet its growing aviation needs.Congratulating NAL, civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the breakthrough will further UDAN’s vision to connect the remotest and high-altitude airfields with made-in-India aircraft.