Antonov freezes turboprop project
The Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov is suspending its AN-132D multi-purpose transport project. The twin-engined turboprop is a new-generation version of the original 1976 Soviet AN-32 aircraft, but with no Russian-made components.
The initiative was to be implemented by Antonov in collaboration with Saudi Arabia. Aleksandr Donets, the president of the company, is cited by local media that "for reasons not related to the Antonov state enterprise, a change of the programme partner occurred in Saudi Arabia and the process has been halted".
He also explained that the Saudi military services were expected to become the launch customer, but have now decided that they need a slightly different airplane. Donets nevertheless insisted that Antonov does not scrap the project but searches for a new customer instead. (ah)