I remember when I was in the Khorog Gorno-Badakhshan Tajikistan I went to the small airport and I was hoping to catch a flight on the An-28 it's first come first served or whoever has the biggest amount of cash lol there was only 14 spaces I was told. We waited a short time then told it wasn't coming due to bad weather. The airport staff told me they knew it wasn't coming hence they had already been drinking this was at 9 am lol. They invited me and my friend for breakfast including bowels of vodka across the road in a small shop. They said that maybe the helicopter run by an international charity (the name escapes me) might have some spare seats only 7 seats in the helicopter and they were free but the charity decides who gets them. Two guys from the charity came to the shop and told us there was no seats available as some MP and medical staff had got them. We finished breakfast then continued back to dushanbe(2 days drive or 1 if you don't stop and drive like a ms chine lol) after being in the Pamirs for 5 days. The helicopter which I wasn't told the model but the airport staff stated it was equipped with all weather systems. The airport was small and short take off landings only. We were told that flights often get cancelled because the An-28 they had had no all weather systems. (Pics are available of my journey there if anyone wants to see them)
So anyway going back to the TVS 2DTS this aircraft would be a perfect replacement for the An-28 and having all weather systems would reduce the number of cancelled flights. So its not just Russian market but globally there's many remote areas that need such an aircraft.
As for the An-28 Production was transferred to PZL-Mielec in 1978. But was originally produced from 1975 but design started much earlier. From 1984-1993 PZL An-28 was in production from 1993 to present it became a more western version called PZL M28 skytruck. And both the PZL An-28 and M28 combined have seen 185+ being built.
Interestingly the USA special operations command ordered some in 2009. And even the German armed forces have leased some for parachute training. The following statements from two articles on the German armed forces use.
" The M28 is renowned for its Short Take Off and Landing capabilities and is a westernised version of the Soviet era Antonov An-28 transport aircraft.
The 7,500 kg (16,500 lb.) twin turboprop is ideal for military and commercial transport missions with its ability to operate from short, unpaved or underdeveloped airstrips.
German Bundeswehr carry out para jumping operation from an altitude of 6,200 meters, with 5 to 6 para troopers, even though the aircraft can carry 14.
The aircraft is flown by civilian pilots and is lot cheap to operate compared to the heavier A400M and the C-160 Transal. Other advantage include the rear exit door that is safe than side exit present in civilian aircraft."
http://www.aviationanalysis.net/2017/08/germany-lease-polish-m28-twin-prop-for.html?m=1
Parachute training within the German armed forces has so far been performed with the C-160 Transall. The A400M, which is replacing the C-160, is too large for some parachute exercises.
PZL Mielec hopes that the current lease will lead to a permanent a larger order from the Luftwaffe.
The deal will provide further ammunition to critics of the A400M, the Luftwaffe requirement for which has already been reduced from an original total of 75 aircraft to 60, and then further cut to 53 aircraft. Initial deliveries to the Luftwaffe were late, owing to delays with the programme. In late January 2011 it was revealed that the German parliament was discussing the possibility of selling on 13 of its allocated aircraft immediately after delivery.
Since the A400M is considered unsuitable for certain tactical airlift scenarios, the German government announced the planned acquisition of six C-130Js in April 2017. They will be operated by a joint Franco-German unit."
https://airforcesmonthly.keypublishing.com/2017/08/07/germany-leases-m28-skytrucks/
And then it gets more interesting sikorsky (HELICOPTER producer bought out the polish company)
" Sikorsky bought the Polish aerospace structures company, PZL Mielec, in 2007 the main focus was to produce helicopter structures and the S70i International Black Hawk helicopter. Included with the purchase was an odd fit for a helicopter manufacturer: PZL’s fixed-wing M28, a rugged twin-engine turboprop. Sikorsky’s new owner, Lockheed Martin, has only now begun to market it in earnest in the regions where it may sell the best.
PZL began producing the latest generation of the M28 in Mielec, Poland, in 1993, and since then the Sikorsky purchase has been delivering about 10 aircraft per year.Customers include the governments of Indonesia, Jordan, Poland, Venezuela, Vietnam, the U.S. and several commercial operators.
Schierholz tackled the information vacuum by getting company approval for an M28 Latin American tour. One-and-a-half years in the making, the tour launched in March and finished in May after visiting seven Caribbean and Latin American countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.
“On a scale from 1-10, I expected interest in this region to be a 10,” says Schierholz. “It was a 15. He says there has been at least one request for proposal submitted from potential military, government or civilian customers in each country visited, some for multiple aircraft. The split between commercial and military applications is 50/50, he says. The split between commercial and military applications is 50/50, he says. The two “most-likely” procurements—Schierholz would not say which countries are involved—have been pushed back into 2018 for “budgetary reasons,” he says.
Cost of the aircraft is $6.5-7 million, depending on the configuration."
http://m28aircraft.com/news/news/view/m28-in-aviation-week
The PZL M28 Skytruck and PZL M28B Bryan is still manufactured.
So even sikorsky/Lockheed see the market potential as well for a small short take off and landings aircraft to be used in remote areas. Not just Rostec then. Where the TVS 2DTS has an advantage here is price ear marked at $1.5mn to eventually come down to $1.2mn take this into account of the M28 Skytruck at $6.5-7mn. For similar aircraft/similar roles.
As for the Germans using it as parachute training and as stated using 6-7 troops for one aircraft and that bigger aircraft are not always suitable backs up what me, GarryB and a few others have said and experienced that quite often smaller aircraft being used. As I mentioned the Britten-Norman being used in the UK for training purposes. This refutes eehnie claims as do other comments made in this post not my words but words of experts and businessmen.
Apologies for the long post.