The UAC/HAL Il-214 Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) is a medium-lift military transport aircraft which is being constructed as a joint venture of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) of India. Both companies are investing US$300 million each in the joint venture.
The MTA is expected to replace the Indian Air Force's aging fleet of Antonov An-32 transport aircraft. The aircraft is designed to perform regular transport duties and also to deploy paratroopers. It is expected to conduct its first flight by 2014, and to enter service by 2016.
In October 2009, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony made an official visit to Russia, during which the two countries formally incorporated the joint venture. The governments of Russia and India agreed to produce the aircraft for their respective armed forces and for friendly third-party countries, and to develop a civilian variant of the MTA in the form of a 100-seater passenger airplane, for which Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) – owned by the Indian government – will be the lead partner and principal integrator. The Indian portion of the MTA's serial production would take place at HAL's Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur.
India and Russia finalized arrangements to support the MTA's development with a contribution of US$300.35 million. Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and India's HAL will set up a subsidiary company to develop the aircraft. The new company, supported by US$600.7 million in funding, will begin work on developing the MTA immediately. HAL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Ashok Nayak confirmed that India would acquire 45 aircraft and Russia 105. There would, however, be scope for exporting the aircraft, both for civil and military use, and more MTAs could be manufactured. In October 2012, HAL signed a preliminary design contract with UAC, stipulating that joint design work would begin in Moscow, involving 30 Indian engineers as well as UAC's design team.
The aircraft is expected to be powered by Russian-made Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofan engines attached to top-mounted wings.and will have a T-shaped tail. The cabin size would be similar to the Ilyushin Il-76, but will be half the length, supporting a maximum payload of 20 tonnes (44,000 lb) of military or civilian cargo. Range is expected to be 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) and top speed 870 km/h (540 mph).
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