Story ID: 533
New Life for an Old Classic
By: David Donald
Caption: Antonov and its Saudi partners have engaged leading U.S. and European suppliers to create a throroughly modern version of the An-32
Word Count: 524
Making its international debut at Paris is the first example of the Antonov An-132, an all-new version of the An-32 light/medium transport (Static Display B4). The An-32 itself was a development of the classic An-24 regional transport, which first flew in 1959 and led to an aircraft family of which production reached more than 3,250, including those built in China by Xian.

Antonov (Chalet 319, Hall 6 A54) has been partnered in the An-132 program by Taqnia Aerospace from Saudi Arabia, and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), which is co-developing the new aircraft. The project forms a major element of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to develop the country’s high-technology industry as part of a major shift away from the current oil-based economy.

A team of 50 Saudi engineers was established and sent to Ukraine for training in aircraft development. Two mirrored development offices have been established in Kyiv and Riyadh, linked so that they share CAD and other critical data to pursue joint development.

KACST was involved in the selection of systems to create the An-132, such as the Pratt & Whitney PW150A engines, GE/Dowty R408 propellers, Liebherr air management system and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. Other features of the aircraft include increased use of composites, new wing box structure and a more streamlined forward fuselage profile. Compared with the An-32, the An-132 has an increased MTOW of 31.5 metric tons (69,446 pounds), payload of 9.2 metric tons (20,283 lb) and more power to give exceptional “hot-and-high” capability, including the ability to operate from airfields at up to 4,000 m (13,125 ft) elevation.

On March 31 this year the first An-132 undertook a one-hour, 43-minute first flight at Antonov’s Gostomel factory near Kyiv. The maiden flight followed a commendably quick development program that had began 18 months before. The first aircraft is designated An-132D, to signify its demonstrator status. It was built in Kyiv using traditional manual construction methods, but An-132 production aircraft are to be built using modern automated processes. The first of these machines will be the true prototype for the aircraft, and is expected to be rolled out in around 18 months.

Production will be conducted in Ukraine until around 2020/21, and shift by degree to Taqnia in Saudi Arabia. Components will be made in both countries. Already Saudi industry has the ability to build 18 percent of the aircraft, mostly comprising composite structures.

Through KACST Saudi Arabia owns 50 percent of the intellectual property in the An-132. An initial need for 80 aircraft has been expressed by the Kingdom, although no specific service or organization has been identified. The An-132 is highly versatile and can be adapted to numerous civilian, government or military roles. The development team has already sketched a number of special-mission variants, including those for electronic warfare, fire-fighting and maritime surveillance. A light gunship version has also been mooted.

In line with the Saudi Vision 2030 the An-132 is seen as the start of a strategic partnership with Antonov that could lead to other types being selected for modernization and production. One other possibility is the An-70 military transport.