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Agreement with Ukraine to upgrade AN-32

NEW DELHI: India has signed a $ 400 million agreement with Ukraine to upgrade its fleet of transport aircraft AN-32 aimed at extending its life and improving avionics.

Defence Ministry officials said on Wednesday that the accord, signed earlier this week, envisaged upgrade of the Air Force’s over 100 AN-32 aircraft over the next five years. In the first phase, the upgrades will be done in Ukraine and in the second half at Kanpur.

The medium range transport aircraft that used to ferry both men and material across the country has been in the service of the Air Force for over two decades.

The officials said that with the upgrades, the aircraft life could be extended by another 10 to 15 years.

AN-32, a twin-engine turboprop, was acquired from the erstwhile Soviet Union. They were made by Antonov, based in Ukraine.

The company on its website says the upgrades could result in increasing the maximum takeoff weight and flight range.

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