The state concern Ukroboronprom is counting on further investments and technological development of the Antonov State Concern (Kyiv) within the framework of the program of a new An-132 lightweight transport aircraft capable of carrying 9.2 tonnes, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Assessing the current situation and potential of the Antonov State Enterprise at the request of journalists, Pavlo Bukin, the newly appointed director general of Ukroboronprom, recalled that currently the company together with the foreign customer promotes the new An-132 to the market and the program was successfully presented in the Middle East.
“The Antonov Enterprise announced the An-132 project with the involvement of a foreign customer, and this project was subsequently successfully presented in Dubai,” Bukin said adding the Antonov Enterprose requires further investment and further technological development.
“There are still questions regarding dependence on components. The dependence is decreasing, but it still exists,” he said, adding that the pace of implementation of the program depends, among other things, on the promotion of research and development work.
“Let’s say the development of a new or changing configuration of an existing aircraft: this is a research work related to testing the compatibility of equipment, climate issues, flight calibration, loads,” the head of the state concern said.
“It all takes time, sometimes we feel the cost of postponed decisions very acutely,” Bukin added.
