Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Government has any plans to provide bigger aircrafts for transportation in defence;

(b) whether Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which is mainly producing fighter Aircrafts and helicopters for Air Force will be given the responsibility to produce bigger aircrafts in India; and

(c) whether India is capable of making bigger aircraft and if so why the project has not been started till today?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a)to(c):Yes, Sir. India is jointly developing a Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA), in 15-20 ton payload category, with Russia. For undertaking design, development and production of MTA, a joint venture company i.e. ‘Multi Role Transport Aircraft Limited (MTAL)’, was incorporated with HAL as Indian partner and United Aircraft Corporation – Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA) and Rosoboronexport, jointly, as Rusian partners on 1st December, 2010. Preliminary Design Phase (PDP) activities of MTA have commenced on 1st December, 2012.

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