India, Russia to sign MTA deal by October

India, Russia to sign MTA deal by October



India and Russia are expected to sign by October a comprehensive agreement for the creation of a state-of-the-art multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) to meet the requirements of their armed forces.The MTA would be designed, developed and manufactured jointly, and an inter-governmental agreement is to be signed in September-October, Director General of Ilyushin Aircraft Corporation, Viktor Livanov was quoted as saying by the Vremya Novostyie daily.Ilyushin is one of the partners in the joint MTA project with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.During their meeting on the sidelines of G-8 last month in St Petersburg, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin are believed to have discussed the project, which would aid in phasing out the ageing Soviet-built Antonov An-24 and An-32 aircraft from the air forces of both nations.Livanov said due to some restrictions in the Russian legislation, the MTA deal would have to be cleared by the Russian parliament by amending some domestic laws.The detailed project would be ready by 2006 and it would take another year to make the blueprint of the twin engine plane based on Ilyushin's IL-214 transport aircraft. It is expected to make its maiden flight in 2008.Both New Delhi and Moscow attach great importance to the MTA project. Russia had walked out of a similar project with Ukraine.