India and Russia were to jointly design and manufacture a passenger jet and a cargo version capable of carrying 20 tonnes, it was reported Monday. India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was to team up with Irkutsk Aviation Corporation, Siberia, to make the 100-seater passenger jet as well as a transporter. The passenger plane would compete with Boeing 717, Airbus 318 and Brazil's Embraer 190. The cargo version would be possible replacements for the Franco-German Transall C-160 and Russia's AN 12 and AN 26, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Approximately 100 cargo aircraft would be supplied to the air forces of India and Russia. "The India Air Force wants 45 of these aircraft (to replace the ageing Russian AN-32 transport fleet), while the Russians are looking for 60 or more," said HAL chairman NR Mohanty. "We will share our expertise in designing the aircraft, but will source the engine from elsewhere as we cannot spend much time on a new engine. We plan to achieve the first flight certification in six years from the date of a formal go-ahead by the two governments." Officials said HAL's design solutions in metal and composite materials and Irkutsk's expertise in aircraft manufacturing would ensure a sturdy fuselage that would be lighter than in conventional aircraft, and increase fuel efficiency. The project is currently estimated to cost 350 million U.S. dollars, to be shared by both firms, the report said.
