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Further Reading

Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA)

On June 6, 2001, a protocol on the commencement of work on the development of a joint multi-role four-engined turboprop transport aircraft IL-214 was signed between Russia and India. For the Russian Party, the Protocol was signed by Mr. Ilya Klebanov, the Vice-Premier of the Government of Russia, for the Indian Party - by Mr. Jaswant Singh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense. Mr. Klebanov commented that the IL-214 would be the most promising aircraft of the XXI century.

In India, the new aircraft is proposed to replace 110 An-32 transport aircraft.

In the course of a detailed working out and harmonization of the requirements set by Air Force of Russia and India, the MTA project was significantly changed from the Il-214 baseline, and the aircraft's payload capacity and cargo compartment dimensions were increased. None of the engines currently manufactured in Russia can be applied to the new aircraft.

On 06 June 2004 a protocol was signed between Russia and India on beginning the joint construction of an Il-214 multi-role military cargo jet. The decision on MTA's full-scale launch was made in November 2007, when a special agreement between the two countries' governments was signed. This long-planned Russian-Indian project will bring to life a next-generation tactical airlifter with maximum takeoff weight about 70 tons and a payload capability of 20 tons. New Delhi has agreed to directly invest $300 million for work to be done by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Russia will invest little, or nothing at all, in the given programs.

In March 2008 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), clarified that the withdrawal of the Russian company, Irkutsk Aviation and Industrial Association as a partner from the $600 million, Indo-Russian Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) joint venture is an internal Russian affair and did not indicate a collapse of the project. Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned monopoly liaison agency for the export and import of defence related and dual use products, technologies and services identified the Ilyushin Aviation Complex as the new prime nodal agency in place of Irkutsk.

The MTA is meant to replace the ageing Antonov (An)-12, An-26/ 32 turboprop transport aircraft which first entered service in the 1970s. While the Indian Air Force plans to acquire 45 of these aircraft, the Russians are committed to acquiring around 100 over 12 years. The MTA was expected to fly in 2013 and be inducted by 2015.

Progress has been slower than anticipated. It had been hoped that a $600 million joint venture would be set up during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's 5th visit to India in March 2010, between India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), to develop a Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the Russian and Indian Air Forces to transport 18.5 tonne payloads over 2500 kilometres. This expectation was belied, and both sides continue to bargain hard in ongoing negotiations.