UAC chief Yuri Slyusar also said that India has agreed to install the Russian PS-90 engines on the MTAs which the two countries are jointly developing. State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is UAC's Indian partner on this long-delayed project.
Speaking to journalists here at the Paris International Air Show, Slyusar said, "The Indians have agreed to the PS-90. The project itself will replace the Antonov group of airplanes which in the near futures will begin to leave service en masse."
"The aircraft is expected to be in great demand not only in Russia and India, but in other markets as well. Preliminary design stage is completed and for now the design is being approved by the two parties," he said.
The project is currently at the stage of the adoption of the preliminary design and UAC hopes to sign a contract on the transition to the stage for a detailed design by 2015-end.
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"That's why we are asking our Indian partners to increase the pace to proceed with the aircraft design itself. We need to manage the maiden flight and start flight testing by 2020," Sluysar said.
The initial agreement for the project was signed by the two countries way back in 2007. UAC and HAL are 50:50 partners in this aircraft project that will have manufacturing facilities in both the countries.