Insta
Antonov Suspends An-132D Development Partnership With Saudi Arabia; India Likely To Be New Choice
Antonov AN-132 is an advanced multi-purpose military aircraft. (Al Arabiya.net)
Aleksander Donets, the president of Ukraine's only aircraft manufacturer Antonov, confirmed in an interview with a local Ukrainian daily UNIAN that it has suspended its project with Saudi Arabia on the An-132D multi-purpose transport project, reports Defence News.
The development of the aircraft was announced in February 2015 after an agreement was signed between the company and Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Taqnia Aeronautics. Subsequently, the first trials for the prototype began in the spring of 2017.
Donets also shared that the partnership was suspended for reasons not related to the Antonov state enterprise. He also added that the project was not being scrapped and that his company was looking for both a new customer and a partner.
It should be noted here that earlier this year, the first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleg Gladkovsky was reportedly discussing the opportunities relating to An-132 with representatives from the India's Ministry of Defence at the aviation exhibition Aero India- 2019.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
