Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), the Ilyushin Aviation Complex and Aviaexport have agreed to jointly develop a twinjet multi-role transport dubbed the Il-214.
The agreement, signed recently, calls for the creation of a high winged, twin-engined aircraft for passenger, cargo and tactical roles.
Ilyushin says that the $300 million development cost will be met by India. The programme's timetable has not yet been defined.
Under the current proposal, the aircraft will have a maximum take-off weight of 55t, and will be powered by a turbofan engine with 21-23,000lb thrust (93-102kN). Candidates include the Rolls-Royce BR710 or Russian-built Progress D436T.
The Il-214 will be able to carry a maximum payload of 18.5t in a cabin which is 3m high, 17.8m long and has a floor width of 3.15m. Non-passenger versions will feature a tail loading ramp.
Although the requirement for a new generation light tactical transport comes from the Indian air force, the cargo version will be the first to be developed, followed by a 100-seat passenger model and then the tactical airlifter.
The Indian air force needs a replacement for the more than 110 Antonov An-32 turboprops which it currently operates.
The Russian and Indian aerospace industries' most recent civil collaboration is the Saras 14-seat turboprop, which has been in development for over a decade. Russia's Myasishchev design bureau had been involved in the project, but India is now pursuing the project alone, and aims to begin test flying a prototype later this year (Flight International, 20-26 February).
Source: Flight International
