NEW DELHI — India expects to roll out the first prototype of the Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) in 2017. The Indo-Russian joint venture to develop a new multi-role military transport, using specifications developed by both countries, was signed in October 2012 between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation’s Transport Aircraft division.

NEW DELHI — India’s much-awaited purchase of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian air force from French firm Dassault Aviation will be further delayed as negotiations to calculate the life-cycle cost haven’t been settled and there is no money for any new buys, Defense Minister A. K. Antony says. “The MMRCA will materialize, [but] it will not be in this financial year [ending March 31],” Antony says. “The negotiations on life-cycle costs are continuing. I hope we will be able to close it [during the] next financial year.”

NEW DELHI — India’s state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Textron Systems Corporation to develop an unattended ground sensor (UGS) system for Indian security agencies.