Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) aircraft corporation and Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed a framework agreement on co-development of a multi-role military transport aircraft (MTA) on Monday in Bangalore, RIA Novosti reports. It was declared by a source close to the Russian military-industrial sector.
According to his information, the framework agreement assumes development of the future aircraft. The work will be carried out by Russian and Indian engineering teams, the source noted.
In accordance with the inter-governmental agreement, Russia and India have established the joint venture - Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd, intended for development and production of MTA. HAL Corporation is participating in the project on the part of India, UAC and Rosoboronexport - on the part of Russia.
Russia and India are going to create the military transport aircraft with a weight-lift ability of 15-20 tons, intended for transportation of cargo and troops, airdrop and airlift delivery of cargo during low-altitude flight. It is planned to manufacture at least 205 aircraft: 100 of them will be intended for Russian air forces, 45 – for Indian air forces and 60 more – for selling to the third countries.
As noted by Lenta.ru, with reference to IANS, the basic agreement on development of MTA was signed by HAL and UAC in September 2010. According to the document, each party should invest $300 million in the project. At that it is planned to manufacture MTA both in Russia and India. The new aircraft will replace the outdated An-32s in the fleet of Indian air forces.
It is expected that the advanced transport aircraft will perform its first flight in 2017 and its serial production will be launched in 2019. According to preliminary data, MTA will have the short-takeoff and landing capability and it will be able to transport cargo with weight of up to 20 tons. The aircraft will be equipped with glass cockpit, FADEC and fly-by-wire system. MTA will have a maximum flight speed of 800 km/h and range of 2500 km.
