Ukraine to start modernization of India's An-32 planes in March

Ukraine will start upgrading military cargo planes for the Indian Air Force in March. The first Indian Antonov An-32 airplane is expected to arrive in Kyiv in early March to undergo modernization at the Antonov Design Bureau, an industry source told Interfax-Ukraine. Then a mass modernization program will be launched at Kyiv-based Civil Aviation Plant No. 410. The modernization program will include efforts to prolong the airplanes' service life to 40 years and to increase their commercial payload from 6.7 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes, the source said. Cockpit noise will also be reduced.In July 2009 the Indian Air Force and Spetstekhnoexport, a subsidiary of Ukrspetsexport state company, signed a $400-million contract to repair and modernize 105 An-32 airplanes owned by the Indian Air Force, following a Ukrainian victory in a December 2007 tender.

 Interfax-Ukraine

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