NEW DELHI, February 6. /TASS/. India has cancelled its international tender on medium-lift military transport aircraft. The country will instead purchase Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) designed and being manufactured jointly by India and Russia, a spokesperson for India’s Defense Ministry told TASS on Friday.

He said India did not find the proposal of participants in the tender for supplying 56 aircraft worth $3 billion satisfactory. "As a result, the Defense Ministry not only declined the deal, but also cancelled the tender altogether," the spokesperson noted.

The Indian Air Force has also "reconsidered priorities in replenishing its fleet," he said. "We want to purchase multipurpose transport aircraft of the new generation - MTA. This ambitious project is being developed jointly by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics. We expect to sign the final agreement soon," the spokesperson added.

The agreement on developing a military transport aircraft with a 20-ton payload for the Air Forces of Russia and India was signed in September 2010. The sides are investing $300 million each in the project. India plans to acquire 45 aircraft, Russia will purchase around 100.

MTA will have 2 turbofan engines and maximum takeoff weight of 65 tons. The cruising speed of the aircraft will stand at 800 km/h.