HAL signs contract for developing multi‑role transport aircraft for India [June 2012]

June 20, 2012 12:17 pm

In an aim to achieve self-reliance in design &development and production of aircrafts of this size and also to manage the programme with international collaboration and large number of global suppliers; Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. has signed the tripartite general contract with United Aircraft Corporation -Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA), the Russian partner & their JV-Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd. (MTAL) for the multirole transport aircraft (MTA) project.
HAL to carry out design & development of its workshare of multi‑role transport aircraft at Aircraft R&D (ARDC) Centre in Bangalore while its transport aircraft division (TAD) at Kanpur to manufacture the prototypes and subsequently the serial production to start at Kanpur where dedicated facilities are being set up. HAL’s other R&D centres and manufacturing divisions will share development of systems & LRU’s and manufacture of components, sub assemblies and composite structure. HAL to 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.
Indian and Russian governments had earlier signed an inter governmental agreement for joint design, development & production of MTA on 50:50 sharing basis and had decided to form a JV between HAL, UAC-TA & Rosoboronexport to execute the project.
The aircraft will be designed for the roles of cargo/troop transportation; para-drop /air drop of supplies including Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) and is to be co-developed by HAL and UAC & Rosoboronexport of Russia through a joint venture company.
HAL & UAC-TA has proposed to Design, Develop and Produce Multi‑role Transport Aircraft in the 15-20 tone class, jointly by Indian and Russian Agencies to meet the requirement of 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.