MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) - India could take part in a joint project to develop an engine for the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ), the director of the Saturn science and production association said Tuesday.

"The SaM-146 engine could become a joint project for a number of Russian and Indian companies," Yury Lastochkin said at an international economic forum in Moscow.

The Russian Regional Jet is a project Sukhoi develops with large American and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace, Honeywell and others.

RRJ will be the first Russian plane with high export potential. Experts say the RRJ market could include at least 800 planes by 2023.

Lastochkin also said work was in progress on a Russian-Indian project to develop an engine for an unmanned aerial vehicle.