India Russia signs follow-on MTA contract

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the aerospace major, signed the Preliminary Design Phase (PDP) Contract today in New Delhi with the United Aircraft Corporation — Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA), the Russian partner and their JV-Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) for the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) project as a follow on contract of the General Contract signed between the three parties in May 2012.

File Photos of a model of MTA at DefExpo 2012

“With this HAL and UAC-TA will start the preliminary design work immediately at Moscow. HAL design team consisting of 30 designers will be positioned at UAC-TA”, says Mr. R.K.Tyagi, Chairman, HAL who was present on the occasion. The primary objective of the project is to achieve self-reliance in design, development and production of aircraft of this size and also to manage the programme with international collaboration and large number of global suppliers, he adds.

The contract was signed by Mr. T. Suvarnaraju, HAL’s Director (Design and Development) and Mr. S.Velmozhkin, General Director, UAC-TA.

An Inter Governmental Agreement was signed on November 12, 2007 to design, develop and produce the multi-role transport aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class, jointly by the Indian and Russian agencies (HAL and UAC-TAS) to meet the requirements of 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft for the IAF and 60 for other countries. The total requirement for the present is 205.

On completion of the agreed work share of the PDP Contract in 10 months, Detail Design Phase (DDP) Contract will be signed to complete the design and development of MTA.

The aircraft will be designed for cargo / troop transportation, paradrop/air drop of supplies including ‘low altitude parachute extraction system’ and is to be co-developed by HAL, UAC, and Rosoboronexport of Russia, through MTAL.

HAL will carry out the design and development of its workshare of the MTA at the Aircraft R&D Centre (ARDC) at Bangalore while its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur will manufacture the prototypes and subsequently the serial production will be undertaken at Kanpur where dedicated facilities are being set up.

HAL’s other R&D Centres and manufacturing Divisions will share development of systems and LRUs and manufacture of components, sub-assemblies and composite structure. HAL will showcase its expertise in design of aircraft as well as systems, manufacturing and flight testing while jointly working with the Russian team in Moscow as well as in India.

HAL has a dedicated Division for manufacture and support of transport aircraft at Kanpur which is the only proven facility in the country for transport aircrafts. This Division has a co-located R&D centre for transport aircraft.

The production of 44 seater HS-748 (Avro) passenger/transport Aircraft commenced at this Division in early 1960s. Eighty nine Avro aircrafts were produced at this Division out of which 22 aircrafts were supplied to civilian customers. The Division is still supporting these aircrafts even after five decades inspite of obsolescence and non-availability of OEMs support thanks to R&D efforts in maintaining fleet serviceability. HAL has undertaken a number of upgrades and modifications to overcome obsolescence and performance enhancement.

Subsequently, production of 19 seater Dornier 228 passenger/utility aircraft started in early 1984. So far 116 aircrafts have been produced for various roles out of which 14 aircrafts were supplied to domestic civilian customers besides export of another two aircrafts. HAL is also exporting complete Dornier 228 aircraft structure to Ruag, Germany with EASA certification. Currently, the Division is supplying aircraft to various defence customers. One aircraft will be exported to Seychelles during this financial year.

The Division is also expecting a number of bulk orders from domestic/foreign customers in near future.

IAF Chief to review 5th Generation Fighter Jet progress in Moscow

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne will embark on three day visit to Russia next week where he will review strategic joint ventures with age old patron in defence field including Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA).

The visit, beginning August 8, will be first for Air Chief Marshal Browne after assuming the charge.

According to sources, the IAF Chief will be visiting Sukhoi Design Bureau and some other Russian Air Force establishments. India and Russia have been working on crucial FGFA and MTA under a fifty-fifty partnership.

The co-developed advanced stealth aircraft FGFA is expected to compete with the US F-22 Raptor, presently the world's only fifth generation fighter, and the under-development F-35 Lightning-II, at an estimated cost of $35 billion.

The Preliminary Design contract for the project was signed in 2010 and the two sides are in “hectic consultations” to freeze the design of this highly advance fighter.

As per US classifications, aircrafts in service from 1980 to 2010, or based on the designs of the 70s are categorised as 4th generation aircrafts. However, 5th generation aircrafts are more advanced with better stealth capabilities and higher speed potential in comparison to the former. The FGFA is being developed under Sukhoi's PAK FA project. The Indian aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is its Indian partner.

The 30 tonne fighter jet will have very advanced avionics, stealth to increase survivability and enhanced lethality. The aircraft is expected to enter service in the 13th plan (2017-2022) period around 2019. So far, the Indian side has put aside $250 million for the Preliminary Design Contract phase. India will be responsible for developing software for on-board computer systems, aircraft self-defence systems, and a host of other important components.

While India is developing its own two seater version of the FGFA, Russia's version is single seater jet. The IAF alone plans to acquire 214 of the combat jets and the option to acquire more has been kept open. The IAF is looking for 166 single seater and 48 twin-seater versions of the aircraft. IAF Chief in the review meeting would apprise Russians about his requirements in the designs of FGFA, sources said.

The HAL has also signed a tripartite general contract with Russia for the MTA project. HAL and UAC-TA have proposed to design, develop and produce the multi-role transport aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class, jointly by the Indian and Russian agencies to meet the requirements of 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft for the IAF and 60 for other countries. The total requirement for the present is 205.

Besides FGFA and MTA, the IAF Chief will also be raising the issue of malfunctioning ‘fly-by-wire’ system of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs resulting in crashes.

Progress in MTA development

(Model of MTA at the DefExpo early this year)

On the joint development of Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA). This is what the Defence Ministry has to say -

"The review of the Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme by the Government is an ongoing process. After signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement in November, 2007 for Design, Development and Production of MTA, Government's approval was conveyed for signing the Share Holders Agreement between HAL and Russian partners on 30th August, 2010. The same was signed on 9th September, 2010. The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association was signed on 25th November, 2010. For implementing the "" 'programme a Joint Venture company has been incorporated between Indian and Russian partners on 50:50 funding basis in December, 2010. The investment for the programme has been worked out to be 771m USD at 2012 Price Level. The CEO of the joint venture has also since been appointed for implementation of the programme."