VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
The team developing the Ilyushin Il-214 twin-turbofan tactical transport intends to launch a competition to select a powerplant following the completion of feasibility studies now underway.
Russian aircraft factory IAPOand India's Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) are working alongside Ilyushin on the Il-214. A deal covering the joint development programme was signed in February this year at the Bangalore air show. The companies intend to invest $300 million in the programme.
IAPO chairman Aleksei Fiodorov says suitable engine candidates are a derated version of the PermPS-90A, a higher thrust version of the ZMKB Progress D-436 and the Rolls-Royce BR715.
Fiodorov says India and Russia will contribute equal amounts of research and development funding. The industrial agreement followed the inclusion of the new aircraft programme in the 10-year military/ industrial co-operation deal signed by the two countries during the visit of Indian defence minister Jaswant Singh to Moscow last month.
Russian deputy prime minister Ilya Klebanov says the "multi-purpose military transport" will replace the ageing Antonov An-12, An-26 and An-32 airlifters in service with Russian and Indian air forces, and will be offered for export.
Klebanov says the Indians chose the "clean-sheet" Il-214 design over the Tupolev Tu-330 and Antonov An-70 so that Indian specialists would be involved in all stages of development. The Il-214 would carry a 15-18.5t payload or up to 80 paratroopers. Target unit price is tentatively set at $20-25 million.
Source: Flight International