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| Multi Transport Aircraft (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — The proposed Indo-Russian Multi Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, awaiting final agreement since 2007, is "almost shelved" said an Indian Defence Ministry source.
Indian Prime Minister Marendra Modi's talks on Dec. 25 with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow failed to pull the MTA out of the "stalemate," the source added.
The Russians are demanding a steep increase in cost for joint development of the transport aircraft and the Indian Air Force is not satisfied with some of the technical parameters of the MTA, especially the PD-14M turbofan engines, which the Russians propose to power the aircraft, the MoD source added.
"The transport aircraft [project] may be shelved because of three reasons. One is engine and secondly there are some internal conflicts in Russia between various stakeholders which is not allowing the desired progress. Thirdly, life of the AN-32 has been extended and the aircraft (upgraded)," said a senior Indian Air Force official who declined to be named.
A Russian diplomat here said, "We are awaiting finalization of the MTA," but refused to comment on the status of the project.
"The MTA program is as good as dead, and a global tendering will take place," said a senior Indian Air Force official.
Read the full story at DefenseNews