Russia, India may sign MTA deal this month

Moscow, Aug 1 (UNI) Russia and India may sign an inter governmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) this month.

During recent talks, both the nations reached a preliminary understanding that an intergovernmental agreement on the development of a new Russian-Indian medium military transport aircraft would be signed either this month, during the MAKS-2007 air show near Moscow, or in September, an Irkut Corporation told RIA Novosti news agency today.

The MTA medium transport aircraft project aims to develop a transport plane with a 20-ton cargo capacity for the Russian and Indian Air Force.

The Russian participants in the project include the Ilyushin design bureau and the Irkut Corporation (RTS:IRKT), which is part of Russia's United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC), created in 2006. India is represented by HAL.

Both countries are expected to procure at least 100 MTA planes each, with Russia facing the need to replace its outdated fleet of An-12, An-26 and An-32 transport planes.

The MTA aircraft is expected to make a maiden flight in 2012, with the first deliveries targeted for 2014.

UNI