India Receives First Upgraded An-32s

Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov has handed India five updated An-32 transports, the first batch in a 105-aircraft upgrade deal. The handover to the Indian air force took place at Civil Aviation Plant 410 in Kiev, said Antonov.

"The timely implementation of the first phase of this contract was only possible thanks to the efficient and precise work of all participants," said Dmitry Peregudov, general director of Ukrainian arms export agency Ukrspetsexport. Signed in 2009, the modernisation programme is the largest-ever deal between the country and India, he said.

The upgraded An-32s have updated equipment including air collision avoidance systems, ground proximity warning systems, satellite navigation, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radars with multifunctional indicators, new oxygen systems and improved crew seats.

The An-32 is similar to the An-26, but has more powerful turboprop engines mounted higher on the wing. It can operate from airfields up to 14,800ft (4,500m) above sea level as well as in hot conditions. It has proved effective at linking India's high mountain settlements with bigger cities.

Well that is another good news for IAF considering that the heavy C-17 GlobeMaster III contract is about to be finalized pretty soon.

AN-32 Specs Key Data:

Key Data:

Role

Bomber or Transport Aircraft

Crew

Three

Passenger Capacity

42 paratroopers or 50 passengers or 24 Casualties on stretcher with three medical personnel

Maiden Flight

July 1976

Entry into Service

July 1984

Numbers Built

361

Dimensions:

Length

23.78m

Wingspan

29.2m

Height

8.75m

Wing Area

75m²

Weights:

Empty Weight

16,800kg

Maximum Take-Off Weight

27,000kg

Payload Weight

6,700kg

Engines:

Type

Ivchenko Progress AI-20DM turboprop engine

Number of Engines

Two

Power Capacity

3,864kW each

Performance:

Maximum Speed

530km/h

Cruise Speed

470km/h

Range

2,500km

Service Ceiling

9,500m

Take-off Run

1,500m

Key Players:

Manufacturer

Antonov Design Bureau

Operators

Afghan Air Force, Armenian Air Force, Bangladesh Air Force, Colombian Army, Croatian Air Force, Ethiopian Air Force, Indian Air Force, Iraqi Air Force, Libyan Air Force, Mexican Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Sri Lanka Air Force and Ukrainian Air Force

Contractors:

Engines

Ivchenko Progress

Avionics Suite

SouthEast Aerospace

Multifunctional Display

Garmin Avionics

Automatic Direction Finder and Radar Altimeter

Bendix or King