he Public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has signed tripartite general contract for designing and developing the multirole Transport Aircraft in India. A press release from HAL informs that the contract was signed with United Aircraft Corporation and Multirole Transport Aircraft Limited of Russia in Bangalore today.

Under the contract HAL will design and develop multirole transport aircraft as part of Joint Venture with the Russian partners. This follows an inter Governmental Agreement that was earlier signed between Indian and Russian Governments. Under the agreement it was agreed that both the countries will jointly design, develop and produce Multirole aircraft on 50:50 share basis.

The aircraft is useful for cargo and troop transportation and airdrop of supplies. Once the project is succcessful, it will provide self-reliance to the country, in the production of aircrafts of this size.