Ukraine working on new orders to supply aircraft to third countries, says Industry Ministry

13:45

Ukraine is working on new orders on supply Antonov aircraft to the markets of the Asian and Pacific region, Africa, and the Middle East, the press service of the Ukrainian Industry Ministry has reported, referring to data announced at a meeting at the ministry.

In particular, new contracts for the delivery of Antonov aircraft to Laos, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are being drawn up, the press service said.

As reported, during the realization of a program on the financial readjustment of the Ukrainian aviation industry started in 2009, the government managed to bring aircraft assembly plants out of a state of bankruptcy, resume the mass production of aircraft and carry out export contracts that were signed earlier.

In 2009, the Kharkiv State Aviation Enterprise produced and supplied three An-74 aircraft under contracts signed earlier with Egypt, Laos and Libya. The aircraft to Libya was shipped in May, to Laos – in October and to Egypt – in December.

The Antonov Design Bureau said that at present the An-74 multi-purpose plane is operated in 20 countries. At present, the Antonov Design Bureau jointly with western partners is realizing a program to upgrade the An-74.

Today, the Ukrainian An-74 is taking part in a tender to supply patrol aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

According to the government's plans, in 2010 the technical re-equipment of the aviation industry will start. Industry Minister Volodymyr Novitsky said that in 2010 state financing for the technical re-equipment of the aviation industry is estimated at UAH 3.85 billion.