Russia and India have signed an agreement on the creation of a joint venture to develop and manufacture a multifunctional transport aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
The deal was signed in New Delhi on Thursday during the 10th meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, spokeswoman Irina Kovalchyuk said.
"During the commission's meeting in New Delhi, the sides agreed to complete its [the JV's] formation in the nearest future and to begin practical development of the aircraft," she said.
India and Russia agreed in September to set up a joint venture to manufacture a military transport plane.
Russia and India signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development and production of a medium transport aircraft (MTA) in 2007.
The first MTA is expected to make its maiden flight in 2016-18.
MOSCOW, October 8 (RIA Novosti)