India, Russia ink pact to jointly design, develop multi role transport aircraft

NEW DELHI/MOSCOW - India and Russia have signed a shareholders agreement to design and develop a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) through a joint venture company (JVC).

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russian partners — United Aircraft Corporation and Rosoboronexport-will form the JVC to develop and produce the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA).

MTA is a 15-20 tonne payload capacity aircraft which would meet the requirement of the Indian Air Force and the Russian Air Force. The project has been approved by both the Government of India and the Government of Russian Federation.

The main features of MTA are: Maximum take-off weight 65 tonnes, Payload Capacity 15-20 tonnes, Cruise Speed 800 kmph, Range 2500-2700 km, Service ceiling 12 km. The Aircraft will have two engines, state of the art features such as fly-by-wire, full authority digital engine control, modern avionics and glass cockpit.

The total development cost is around US 600.70 million dollars (approximately Rs.2900 crores) to be equally shared by both the sides.

It is planned to manufacture 205 aircraft with 50:50 work share between HAL and the Russian partners.

A Joint Venture Company’s headquarters will be located at Bangalore. (ANI)