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The Indo-Russian agreement on the development of a new Multi-role Transport Airplane (MTA) has received a further boost with the Russian government having earmarked $64 million for this prestigious project. The joint development agreement between the two nations was signed in 2007 and the entire cost of $600 million will be equally shared.
The MTA project includes the Ilyushin Design Bureau and the Irkut Corporation, which is part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) created in 2006 while state-owned aircraft manufacturing company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will represent India. The MTA plane will have a 20 tonne cargo capacity and will be ready in eight years.
Viktor Livanov, General Director of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, indicated that $64 million has been allocated from the federal budget for this project in 2009 and a directive to initiate the MTA project has been given. According to the joint venture, HAL would design the front fuselage and wing while Russian companies would work on the rear and centre fuselage of the MTA. While HAL would also contribute in the development of the avionics, engines would
possibly be sourced from Pratt & Whitney or Russian manufacturers.
Both the countries will be acquiring the MTA planes for their Armed Forces. According to sources, India is expected to procure 45 MTA planes, while Russia, which needs to replace its outdated fleet of AN-12, AN-26 and AN-32 transport planes, is most likely to commission at least 100 aircraft. India has an option to buy more MTA’s for the Indian Army and security forces.
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