Tashkent Mechanical Plant (TMZ) (Uzbek: Toshkent Mexanika Zavodi), formerly Tashkent Aviation Production Association named after V. P. Chkalov (TAPO or TAPOiCh) (Uzbek: V.P.Chkalov nomli Toshkent aviatsiya ishlab chiqarish birlashmasi) is a leading high-technology company of Uzbekistan, which was originally moved from Russia to the rear of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan in 1941 during World War II.

The enterprise declared bankruptcy in September 2010 and was planning to end all aircraft production in 2012 with the external management procedure, which was terminated in November 2013 after settling with its creditors in October.

In the second plan, it was founded in 1932 in the city of Khimki, Moscow region as the 84 Repairing Factory of GVF (Civil Aviation Fleet).

This association was responsible for aircraft production, for the social development of the city where it is situated and for the health-care system for its employees.

During its long existence, the company has been involved in the production of a wide range of aircraft including: I-15, I-16, I-153, Li-2, Il-14, An-8, An-12, An-22, and Ka-22, as well as the wing and centre section of the An-124 and An-225.

The new generation of aircraft models IL-76MF and IL-76TF have a carrying capacity of over 52 tons and are equipped with new highly economic low-noise motors.

The new variation of the IL-114-100 aircraft is powered by engines built by Pratt & Whitney, the Canadian subsidiary of Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp, with a service life of over 6000 flying hours.

The Russian Ilyushin Production Complex was created in January 1997 to include all designers and producers of Il-family planes.

EMFC, U.S. based project consultancy firm specializing in CIS aviation projects, will coordinate the activities of Pratt & Whitney Canada, AlliedSignal Aerospace, Price Waterhouse, UzinvestProject and Uzavialeasing in formulating and implementing a financial structure to accommodate the sale/lease of the TAPO manufactured Il-114 aircraft within the CIS and abroad.

The Pratt & Whitney PW127H model, which received Canadian and Russian/CIS type certification in December 1999, powers a new passenger version of the Ilyushin IL-114 aircraft.

In March 2002 it was reported that a contract for the delivery to India of three Il-78 tankers was signed by the Tashkent AViation Production Association (TAPO).

Like most of the former Soviet aviation industry, TAPOiCh in the first half of 1990s was faced with serious economic difficulties caused by lack of state orders.

The company began the outflow of skilled manpower, aggravated common to the former Soviet republics negative attitude to Russian-speaking population of the core staff of high-tech industries.

In 2001, Uzbek national airline Uzbekiston havo YULLARI entered into a contract with TAPOiCh for the purchase of three Il-114 engines from Pratt & Whitney.

In May 2006, ZAO Tehnospetsstal-Engineering located in Saint Petersburg signed a contract with the GAO TAPOiCh to supply 30 Il-114 planes with Russian engines TV7-117S, its implementation should be completed in 2008.

At the current time, the Government of Uzbekistan retains full control over all aspects of the economy, from major industries and facilities to the exchange rate of the soum.

While this plan is ambitious and represents a unique opportunity for investors interested in Uzbekistan, it is yet to be determined how successful this program will be.

The first tender of this program, for the Almalyk Copper Plant, has been widely considered a failure due to lack of interest.

In March 2000 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, who was in charge of the military-industrial complex, had a meeting with state adviser to the president of Uzbekistan on security issues Mirakbar Rahmonqulov in Moscow.

It was projected that by May 2000 Russian and Uzbekistan would sign documents and form one of the strongest and largest aviation concerns of the world.

The Uzbek-Swiss-German joint venture Hobas-TAPO (Tashkent) has begun production of non-metal pipes for pipelines in the republic's oil, gas and chemical industries.

On the Uzbek side, it includes the Tashkent-based Chkalov Aviation Corporation, which holds 50 per cent of the joint venture's charter fund.

TAPOiCh lacked financing and technical parts from Russian partners in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

[14] These were fitted with new Perm 90 engines that meet ICAO Chapter IV standards, which are allowed to operate worldwide.

In June 2009, the factory delivered a civilian IL-76TD to Silk Way Airlines[16] On 29 October 2010, the first production Il-76MF for the Jordanian Air Force was ferried to Moscow for further test and completion.

[11] On 4 July 2007 reports emerged that TAPOiCh was to be included into the United Aircraft Building Corporation,[17] and as from 2010 to 2012 was to produce 24 Il-76MF cargo planes for China, in cooperation with JV AviaStar of Ulyanovsk, Russia.