Russia, Hungary agree to jointly develop, manufacture modernized Il-103 plane
MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - The Ilyushin Aviation Complex (part of Rostec's United Aircraft Corporation) and Hungary's Aviation Engineering have signed a contract for the modernization and licensed production of the Ilyushin Il-103 plane in Hungary, the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry said.
"The parties have agreed to jointly develop and manufacture an enhanced version of the Il-103 light multirole plane at the Aviation Engineering manufacturing facility in the city of Pecs," it said.
The upgraded Il-103M will be a modernized version of the single-engine four-seat plane with a piston engine manufactured in 1997-2007.
"The modernized Il-103 will serve as a multirole platform on whose basis different versions of the plane could be manufactured, including trainers, planes for private use and tourism, for transporting patients in need of urgent medical aid, for bringing passengers and small cargo to difficult to access areas, for environment monitoring, patrolling, or agricultural purposes," it said.
The Il-103's maiden flight was in 1994. The Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant has manufactured serially about 60 Il-103s.
As the Il-103 can be used as a training aircraft, it has been referred to informally as a flying desk in Russia.
