An aircraft consortium, led by Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau and America's Boeing Corporation, has asked India to join its project to build a family of regional jet transport aircraft for civilian use.

"They are very keen that we (India) become a risk-sharing partner," Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd chairman N R Mohanty told reporters on the sidelines of SCALE 2004 conference on supply chain and logistics management, in Bangalore on Thursday.

He said the Russian government has committed to buy about 60 civil aircraft and added that the manufacturers will also explore the global market for these aeroplanes.

The Seattle-based Boeing and Sukhoi Design Bureau will produce the air-frame and the engine will be jointly built by European aero engine manufacturer Snecma and Russia's Lyulka Saturn for the family of 60, 75 and 95-seater aircraft, with the first plane expected to take off by 2007-08.

The consortium would compete with Brazil's Embraer firm, in which Snecma has an equity stake.

Mohanty said India has not finalised plans to join the consortium, but added HAL could provide crucial parts of engines and aircraft structure for the venture.

"It is a good opportunity to go global. If we become part of this type of consortium, our image will go up, capability and infrastructure will increase," he said.

Mohanty said the profit would be shared between the companies based on the size of investment they make.