New Multirole Transport Aircraft To Be Operated By India And Russia

India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has entered into a contract with Russian firm United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to manufacture 205 multi-role transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Russian Air Force (RAF) and export market. The partners have secured a second Russian firm - Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) - as partner in the joint venture for the project, according to HAL's Tuesday statement.

"The aircraft will be designed for cargo/troop transportation; para-drop/air drop of supplies, including low altitude parachute extraction system," said HAL Chairman R.K. Tyagi. "Our primary objective is to achieve self-reliance in design and development and production of an MTA and manage the program with international collaboration and global suppliers."

HAL will carry out design & development of its workshare of the MTAL at its Aircraft R&D (ARDC) Center at Bangalore while its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur will manufacture the prototypes and subsequently the serial production will be at Kanpur where dedicated facilities are being set up. HAL’s other R&D Centers and manufacturing divisions will share development of systems & LRU’s and manufacture of components, sub assemblies and composite structure. HAL will showcase its expertise in design of aircraft as well as systems, manufacturing & flight testing while jointly working with the Russian team in Moscow as well as in India.

The primary objective is to achieve self-reliance in design &development and production of aircrafts of this size and also to manage the program with international collaboration and large number of global suppliers.

The tripartite contract was based on the inter-government pact signed earlier by the Indian and Russian governments for joint design, development and production of the aircraft on 50:50 cost sharing basis by the joint venture partners. The joint venture will also work with Russia's aerospace major Rosoboronexport to co-develop the aircraft.

HAL & UAC-TA propose to design, develop and produce 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft to the IAF and 60 for the third countries. Total requirement for the present is 205. The MTA project preliminary design will start immediately on signing the follow up contract on preliminary design on which tripartite discussions have been concluded.

FMI: www.hal-india.com