Ukraine offers to co-develop transport aircraft with India

[jha]

Ukraine offers to co-develop transport aircraft with India

New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen their military ties, Ukraine has offered to jointly develop a medium weight transport aircraft with India.

"Ukraine has offered to jointly produce a 10-12 tonne class weight aircraft with us based on their already existing Antonov-148 commercial aircraft and the proposal is being considered by the government," defence ministry officials told PTI.

The payload carrying capacity of the proposed aircraft -- An-178, offered by the Ukrainians to the Indian Air Force, will be between that of the C-130J and the force's workhorse An-32 aircraft, they added.

The C-130J Hercules, which will be delivered to India in the first quarter next year, can carry around 20 tonnes and the An-32s can carry a payload of around six tonnes.

If the Ukrainian proposal is approved, this will be the second such co-development programme for transport aircraft after India and Russia signed a contract for developing the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) few years back.

The Ukrainian government has also offered to manufacture and export the proposed aircraft to friendly countries, officials said.

The IAF already operates a fleet of over 100 Ukrainian An-32 aircraft fleet, which are currently being upgraded in the country's capital Kiev and used to operate the An-12 aircraft, which could carry around 15 tonnes.

During the Soviet era, facilities to develop transport aircraft were based in Ukraine and Kiev has maintained the facilities even after its break-up from the erstwhile USSR in the 90s.

In the recent past, the IAF has taken several measures to augment its transport aircraft fleet, which mainly consists of Ilyushin 76 and An-32 aircraft.

To bridge the gap between payload capabilities of the two aircraft, IAF will procure 12 20 tonne C-130Js from America at over $1.5 billion and co-develop the MTA with Russia.

It also plans to procure around 10 C-17 strategic lift aircraft from the US, which can carry over 70 tonnes of load.

Ukraine offers to co-develop transport aircraft with India - dnaindia.com

 

[jha]

kya karna chahiye...suggestions..?

 

[Join]

But we already are developing MTA with russia....

 

[shaktiman2010]

Invest $10 Billion in DRDO+ADA+M&M+TATA Joint venture over next 6 years, for making transport aircraft which can carry atleast 40 tons payload.

This will create huge R&D base in country.

China did same thing 30 years ago and that created a huge army of aviation engineers in China. Now as result of that, even Boeing is setting up factory in China to exploit the advantage of high-skilled manpower.

India won't get anything by begging to Russia or USA. You will get it when you start doing yourself.

Dump Russia, Ukraine and lets do it ourselves. We did LCA+kaveri(under PSU) in 20 years, we can do transport plane in 10 years.

Remember, USA offered Cray supercomputer(lower end version) to India only after Indians built their own(C-DAC's Padma).

But I don't think even MMS is serious about LCA/Kaveri projects. Recent 78Carore push for gas turbine R&D is a pony shame and just a PR attempt to salvage "domestic" lobby.

 

[jha]

^^^^ very good post...however i doubt whether the BABUS in Defence ministry will let it happen..?

it seems this is a going to be a very good year for INDIAN ARMED FORCES....LCA,LCH,PAKFA and ARJUN plus a no. of offers...

 

[shaktiman2010]

I am sure morons in IAF will soon start making noises about "LCH is bulky. Its slow." "Lets import please because we will die if we don't import now."

And, a good commission will go into IAF and MoD babus. Win win for all.

 

[Indian Su30 MKI]

Very good thread SIR

I think we have to remove our dependency from the Russian.
Ukraine will be a good business partner.

 

[Join]

I am sure morons in IAF will soon start making noises about "LCH is bulky. Its slow." "Lets import please because we will die if we don't import now."

And, a good commission will go into IAF and MoD babus. Win win for all.

Only DRDO will loose just like they always do.

Just Pony 78Carore for aircraft engine R&D in academics? Heck, even a single EJ200 costs more than that. What a shame!

We are being ruled by a moron and he is listening to corrupt fools in IAF,MoD.

You said it, but IAF has some specifications, If it meets it, why would they not want it??? We cannot compromise our Security.... Hope you understand, IAF is doing fine, then only DRDO will come up with World class products, DRDO was very upset when Army denied Buying Arjun and Criticized its fault, but After few years DRDO challenged Army to test Arjun against the best tank in Indian army's arsenal... and Arjun Outgunned T-90... As long as DRDO dosent have any other firm to Compete with, this is the only way to make them come in the right track, they should not get a feeling that what ever they develop will be bought by the Armed forces.... No compromise what so ever

 

[Materialistic]

India should not go for Ukrainian offer since its already co-developing a transport aircraft with Russia then whats the point of keeping two different transport aircraft which just has to carry and drop a load unlike a jet fighter which improves air power if different platforms are available.
Rather than joining Ukraine India should go for its trusted ally Russia and invest rather more in that project.

 

[jha]

UKRAINE's offer is no doubt lucrative..will get the technological know how plus good chances of using their infra for our purpose till ours is ready...

and not to forget almost all major shipyards of soviet times are there in this country itself...who knows what else is there in their sleeves...

a design for an unheard SUB, maybe..?

 

[Kinetic]

But we already are developing MTA with russia....

A bold NO!!! Ukraine is one of the few countries those supplied sensitive high tech systems to Pakistan and China. Above all we already have a MTA programme with Russia.

 

[Join]

A bold NO!!! Ukraine is one of the few countries those supplied sensitive high tech systems to Pakistan and China. Above all we already have a MTA programme with Russia.

Exactly.....

 

[jha]

international diplomacy is not that simple..plus theirs is a defence export driven economy...if we can gain from it then why not..?

 

[Ingis]

Ukraine was the same country which sold T-80U and Il-78 to Pakistan.

What guarantee is there that if India co-develops this aircraft with Ukraine, the latter will not sell some key technology of that aircraft to Pakistan in future?

We will develop our own aircraft. Besides, Ukraine can't offer much technologically anyways.

 

[jha]

yeah thats very true.... but those days were pretty tough for them...and again france, germany , US and now Russia has sold to pakistan...

i am in support of this deal because of the XTRA things..not for just this.