Ukraine and Turkey are intend to begin practical implementation of a joint project for creation of the An-188 turbojet military transport aircraft in the near future. The two sides made a decision to this effect at the 2018 Eurasia international airshow, which took place in in Antalya, the Ukroboronprom state defense concern announced.
"The new aircraft will make the Ukrainian-Turkish project one of the world leaders. The decision to begin practical implementation of the project in the near future was made after talks with a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Defense Minister Ismail Demir," Ukroboronprom’s General Director Pavlo Bukin is quoted as saying.
According to Ukroboronprom, the An-188 transport aircraft project provides for "complete Westernization of all components" and introduction of modern technical solutions. The transport aircraft will fully comply with NATO standards, in terms of both equipment and tactical use of the aircraft.
It will have a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons and be able to transport military equipment of all kinds, military and construction equipment, helicopters, up to 300 soldiers, as well as humanitarian cargoes, pallets, and containers.
It will be possible to base the An-188 transport aircraft at various types of airfields, including unpaved ones, and it will be able to land on short runways with lengths of only 600-800 meters.
"This significantly increases the number of airfields from which it can be used, which ensures high efficiency of the new machine," Ukroboronprom said.
The An-188 transport aircraft is being is created on the basis of the An-70 turboprop transport aircraft, which was developed in partnership with Russia. The termination of Ukrainian-Russian cooperation on the An-70 aircraft because of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine means that this aircraft will not be launched into mass production and it needs to be re-developed to exclude Russian components.
