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India is to acquire up to 45 Antonov 'AN-38-100' transport planes from Russia to phase out ageing Soviet-supplied fleet with the Indian armed forces.
According to the Novosibirsk-based aircraft manufacturer NAPO, currently 'AN-38-100' plane is undergoing airworthiness certification tests in India, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year, ITAR-TASS reported.
This plane has a range of 1,800 km and is capable of ferrying cargo and 27 passengers.
Meanwhile, in the second quarter of this year, work will begin on the design and development of the joint Indo-Russian multi-role transport aircraft 'Ilyushin-214T'.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had entered into a joint deal with Russia's Irkutsk-based IAPO aircraft plant last summer.
India has 47 per cent stake in the US $350-million project and the multi-role transport plane is expected to make its maiden flight in 2005. The jointly developed plane would be simultaneously produced at HAL factory in Kanpur and Russian town of Irkutsk.
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