3rd batch of Ukrainian planes to fly back to India

[RPK]

India receives upgraded An-32s from Ukraine

India has taken delivery of a third batch of five upgraded Antonov An-32 transports, following their modernisation in Ukraine.

Ukrainian defence export agency Ukrspecexport announced the delivery on its web site. Under a 2009 deal Antonov is modernising 40 aircraft in Ukraine and another 65 at the Indian air force base in Kanpur.

The first batch of five modified aircraft were handed over in May 2011, followed by a second batch of five last September.

The upgraded An-32s have updated equipment including collision avoidance and ground proximity warning systems, satellite navigation, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radars with multifunctional indicators, plus 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. The type has proved effective at linking India's high mountain settlements with bigger cities.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

India receives upgraded An-32s from Ukraine

India has taken delivery of a third batch of five upgraded Antonov An-32 transports, following their modernisation in Ukraine.

Ukrainian defence export agency Ukrspecexport announced the delivery on its web site. Under a 2009 deal Antonov is modernising 40 aircraft in Ukraine and another 65 at the Indian air force base in Kanpur.

The first batch of five modified aircraft were handed over in May 2011, followed by a second batch of five last September.

The upgraded An-32s have updated equipment including collision avoidance and ground proximity warning systems, satellite navigation, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radars with multifunctional indicators, plus 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. The type has proved effective at linking India's high mountain settlements with bigger cities.

Good to see the upgrade/life extension program on the An-32s. They may not be the best medium lift aircraft that the IAF could use but they have turned out to be the most cost-effective acquisitions in the IAF inventory. When the IAF was shopping for aircraft in this class the Soviet Union offered the An-26, which the IAF promptly rejected for poor "hot and high" performance and that seemed to be it. But that was the time when the Indo-Soviet relationship was at its peak, so the Soviets redesigned it for the IAF only and added more powerful engines. However the biggest sweetener was the price. When the IAF put forward a requirement for 50-60 aircraft, the then Defence Secretary told them to ask for a hundred, since the price worked out to a little less than 1 crore apiece then and on very easy and deferred credit terms. That started the saga of the An-32s, an aircraft that is not the most modern or sophisticated but very robust and simple. Qualities that it shares with Mi-17s in some measure.

That is why the IAF is keeping them going.