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Defense Express
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August 26, 2021, 1:28 p.m.
An-132D and An-178 during a flight in Gostomel in March 2017 / Photo: Sergey Smolentsev
Negotiations with Azerbaijan on the purchase of new An-178 with localization of production have also been resumed
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia may soon resume a program to create a small transport aircraft with subsequent localization on the Arabian Peninsula.
Serhiy Bychkov, General Director of Antonov State Enterprise (part of Ukroboronprom), spoke about these plans in an interview with Apostrophe .
An-132D demonstration aircraft during the roll-out ceremony on December 20, 2016
According to him, pryzupyntsi the "AN-132" guilty of some error the former leadership of "Antonov" (the plane too much " importozamistyly ") and political circumstances - in Saudi Arabia, the government changed, which began to lobby for the interests of Airbus.
"Unfortunately, our leadership made a tactical mistake: it was decided not only to redesign the aircraft and change the engines, but also to change the control system and so on. The aircraft has changed externally," said Sergei Bychkov.
"However, as CEO Serhiy Bychkov was appointed CEO in November 2020, and was actually elected CEO in June 2021, I met with the Prince of Saudi Arabia. They are ready to resume work because we we already have the relevant experience, we know the weaknesses of the project, how to eliminate them, what to design and what kind of plane you need to get, "said the head of Antonov.
At the same time, Serhiy Bychkov named the approximate terms of signing this important contract for the enterprise.
An-132D demonstration aircraft during a demonstration flight in the UAE in 2017 / Photo: Oleg V. Belyakov
"If not this year, then at the beginning of next year we hope to sign a contract with Riyadh for the joint creation of such an aircraft, which will eventually be produced at an aircraft factory in Saudi Arabia. For this company has already allocated space. An-132D aircraft: it will be in demand in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia, "the CEO said.
In addition, the new leadership of "Antonov" initiated the resumption of negotiations with Azerbaijan on the program for the construction of the An-178.
Preliminary agreements with Azerbaijan were signed when the new aircraft had not yet passed flight tests and was not certified, in addition, it had a large number of Russian components / Photo: Vitos
"We have resumed negotiations with Baku. They say: let's sit at the negotiating table and find out if the plane is suitable for you in the version we are doing for the Ministry of Defense , if so - we are ready to continue. But at one time there was a question Azerbaijan. I am in favor with both hands, but it should be done step by step, gradually gaining experience. For example, first make certain details, eventually expanding their range ... ", - said Sergei Bychkov.
Import-substituted and updated prototype An-178 differs slightly from the first version both in terms of configuration and price / Photo: Vasiliy Koba
According to him, the Azerbaijani side has not yet provided answers to the updated Ukrainian proposals (it was previously reported that Azerbaijan is not satisfied with the price of import-substituting An-178, which has risen slightly, - note DE). However, the head of the state-owned enterprise is confident that their position may change when new aircraft for the Armed Forces of Ukraine are built.
The first An-178-100R for the Ministry of Defense as of the end of May 2021
"I think that in 2022, after the take-off of the plane for the Ministry of Defense, we will reach an agreement with Azerbaijan. Everyone is waiting for the take-off of the An-178," said the CEO.
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