Manohar Parrikar's Russia visit: Military transport aircraft project on mind

NEW DELHI: On his first visit to Russia, defence minister Manohar Parrikar’s biggest challenge will be to rescue a joint project to develop a new generation military transport aircraft that is rapidly steering towards cancellation.

While Parrikar is expected to discuss several major acquisitions, including a possible purchase of two new Kilo class submarines and the S 400 air defence system, the biggest concern is on the Multi Role Transport Aircraft ( MTA) project that was firmed up in 2009.

Sources told ET that serious differences have cropped up in the project that was being slotted to replace the An 32 transport fleet of the Air Force. While as part of the initial offering, the MTA was to have futuristic technology including a full authority digital engine control ( FADEC) system. However, Russia

has not been able to convince the Indian side that it would be able to incorporate this and other systems into the aircraft. “We have several questions that need to be answered and if there is no satisfactory response, a quick decision on the future of the project needs to be taken,” a senior Defence Ministry functionary told ET. Questions are also likely to be raised by the Indian side on the progress of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project which is awaiting the next step of signing of a firm contract.