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| A 2009 Model of the Ilyushin Il-214 (Image: Wiki Commons) |
by Vladimir Karnozov
The Russian government will fund development of the Ilyushin Il-214 medium airlifter and production of about a hundred such aircraft for the Russian Air and Space Force (VKS), according to industry sources close to the program. Allocations for procurement will be provided in the Kremlin's new Armament Program after 2020, following the current program timed for 2010-2020.
The Il-214 is, effectively, a version of the Indo-Russian Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA). Moscow and New Delhi signed a government-to-government agreement for the MTA in 2007. This was followed three years later by a co-development agreement at the industry level. A newly established Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd. (MTAL) company based in Bangalore made its first appearance at airshows with a stand at AeroIndia 2010.
The development costs were previously estimated at $600 million, and were to be covered by both parties on equal terms. Serial examples of the aircraft would cost between $35 and $40 million. The global market for the MTA was forecast at 400 units, including special mission versions for electronic warfare, airborne early warning and control, reconnaissance and patrol and airborne tanker.
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and its Russian collaborators signed agreements in 2012 that established a joint team of 150 designers in Moscow and Bangalore. The team started working on MTA documentation in December that year. Shortly thereafter, however, the effort was discontinued over disagreements and misunderstandings. In January, Ilyushin general manager Sergei Velmozhkin told reporters: “As a joint project between Russia and India, this project has been halted.
Read the full story at AINonline