Bangalore, May 30
The Indo-Russian project to develop a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) got a major boost with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) signing a tripartite general contract with Russian partner United Aircraft Corporation-Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA) and Multi-role Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) for the project.

“The MTA project’s preliminary design will start immediately on signing the follow-up contract on which tripartite discussions have been concluded,” an HAL spokesman said here yesterday. The agreement was a follow-up of a deal signed between India and Russia in 2007.

The MTA is slated to replace the AN 32 aircraft being used by the IAF.

The Russian Air Force will get 100 aircraft against IAF’s 45 out of the initial production target of 205 aircraft. The remaining 60 aircraft will be sold to friendly countries at an estimated price of $35 million apiece.

The project had got into rough weather after India felt there was nothing much for Indian engineers and scientists to do in the design and development of the proposed aircraft. UAC-TA apparently perceived HAL’s role in the project more or less as that of a production agency only.

Defence Minister AK Antony took up this issue with his Russian counterpart Anatoly E Serdyukov during his visit to Russia last year.

HAL spokesman said it would carry out design and development of its work share of MTA at the Aircraft R&D Centre (ARDC) at Bangalore.

HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur would manufacture the prototypes. The serial production also would be at Kanpur where dedicated facilities were being set up.

The aircraft will be used for cargo and troop transportation, para-drop and air drop of supplies, including low-altitude parachute extraction system.

HAL has been manufacturing transport aircraft such as Avros and Dorniers at TAD, Kanpur.