Ukraine sells 30 AN-178 airlefters to SAUDI ARABIA

[Gasoline]

UKRAINE SELLS 30 AN-178 AIRLIFTERS TO SAUDI ARABIA






Although the deal is not fully put into ink yet, things are looking better again for the Ukrainian Antonov aircraft company. Saudi Arabia wants to buy 30 of its new AN-178 two-engine military airlifters and signed a preliminary agreement on 17 December 2015, Antonov announced.

Talks between the two countries will now determine the exact details of the likely deal, which follows an agreement announced in May this year for the AN-132. Saudi Arabia will produce that version of the AN-32 cargo aircraft / military airlifter on its own, with Ukrainian Antonov transferring the necessary technology and property rights to Taqnia Aeronautics and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in the Kingdom.



Roll out & first flight
The AN-178 is newly designed aircraft that was rolled out of the Antonov factory in Kiev on 7 May 2015 and first flew from Kiev Gostomel airport only three weeks later. Keeping up the pace, the new transporter made its international airshow debut at the Paris Air Show in June.


The Antonov AN-178 during its airshow debut in Paris. (Image © Elmer van Hest)
Competition
The AN-178 is seen as a financially attractive option and internationally competes with the propeller airlifters of Alenia Aermacchi (C-27J- extensive feature story here) and Airbus (C295) and the new jet-powered Embraer KC-390. The latter suffers from atwo year-delay in its development program however.

Antonov has a rough time since Russia initiated hostilities with Ukraine on the Crimean Peninsula and Eastern Ukraine in 2014. Joint deals with Russia’s industries – once working closely with their Ukrainian “brothers” – are no longer an option. The Saudi deals bring light at the end of the tunnel.

© 2015 Airheadsfly.com editor Marcel Burger
Featured image: The Antonov AN-178 at Le Bourget, 2015 (Image © Elmer van Hest)





Ukraine sells 30 AN-178s to Saudi Arabia

 

[Gasoline]

I hope we reach to an agreement for this. An-178 is a good choice for military transport and Ukraine is a good partner.

Good luck.

 

[Lieutenant]

Enemy of my enemy is my friend type of thing.

 

[Lieutenant]

I hope we reach to an agreement for this. An-178 is a good choice for military transport and Ukraine is a good partner.

Good luck.

Ukraine is expecting a lot in return not just money. It needs support to the issue with Russia.

 

[T-123456]

I hope we reach to an agreement for this. An-178 is a good choice for military transport and Ukraine is a good partner.

Good luck.

See it more as foreign financial aid to Ukraine,just to show who's side you(KSA) are on,i guess.
Btw,a good looking aircraft.

 

[Lieutenant]

What type of engine the An-178 is using and where its manufactured?

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Saudi Arabia to acquire An-178 airlifter
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
17 December 2015

Seen here at the Dubai Airshow, the An-178 looks set to be acquired by the RSAF following a memorandum on delivery for 30 aircraft signed by Antonov and Taqnia Aeronautics. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings

Antonov has signed a 'memorandum on delivery' for 30 An-178 airlifters for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), the Ukrainian manufacturer announced on 18 December.

The memorandum was signed with Riyadh-based Taqnia Aeronautics based on the An-178's "price and low operational costs". As well as agreeing to supply the aircraft to the RSAF, both parties will jointly market the twin-jet transport aircraft to other potential Middle Eastern operators.

Having recently been showcased at the Dubai Airshow in November, the An-178 was first revealed in 2010 and made its maiden flight on 7 May of this year. It is essentially an An-158 regional jet with a rear loading ramp, while specifications listed in IHS Jane's All The World's Aircraft: Development & Production give the An-178 a cargo hold measuring 16.65 m including ramp, or 12.85 m excluding ramp; a 2.745 m width at the floor and a height of 2.75 m; and a floor area of 40 m² and a hold volume of 125 m³ (both including the ramp). Its wingspan is 28.84 m, it is 32.95 m in length and 10.14 m tall. The aircraft has a maximum payload of 18 tonnes and a range of 1,000 km fully loaded. Its cruise speed is 445 kt and requires a 2,500 m runway from which to operate.

The An-178 agreement comes on the back of a deal that was recently signed between both parties related to the An-132 twin-turboprop platform, and Antonov said it expects to come to a similar understanding with Taqnia Aeronautics with regard to the An-148 regional jet/cargo aircraft.
Saudi Arabia to acquire An-178 airlifter | IHS Jane's 360

 

[Susimi]

Really nice looking aircraft that I never knew about until opening this thread, ha. It's got a sort of standard look about it but with modern lines, if that sounds right.

The deal is pretty good and it should help keep a good aircraft company going.

 

[Gasoline]

[

What type of engine the An-178 is using and where its manufactured?

Antonov An-178 Transport Aircraft - Airforce Technology





2X D-4361-148M turbofan engines :

More about the engine :
D-436-148 Turbofan Aero Engine | ГП Ивченко-Прогресс





It's manufactured by :

Ivchenko-Progress (Ukrainian Co.):

ГП Ивченко-Прогресс


(Most of Antonov engines are provided by this company )

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

...

(*:*)


Quote :

Royal Saudi Air Force to acquire 30 An-178 transports

18 December, 2015
By: Dominic Perry, London

Saudi Arabia has tentatively signed for 30 examples of the developmental Antonov An-178 tactical transport, in a deal that could eventually see the Kingdom producing the aircraft locally.

Detailed in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Antonov and Saudi company Taqnia Aeronautics, the deal will see the partners deliver the aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

It further builds on the growing relationship between Riyadh, Taqnia and the Ukrainian airframer. They are already collaborating on the development of the An-132 freighter – a modernised version of the 1970s-era An-32 – that will be assembled in Saudi Arabia. Taqnia also is promoting special-mission variants of the An-148.

Retired Maj Gen Ali Mohammed Al−Ghamdi, president of Taqnia Aeronautics, describes the signing of the MoU as “a significant step” in the level of co-operation between the partners. They will jointly promote the An-178 into the Middle East, he says, adding: “In the future we plan co-operative production of this aircraft.”

First flown on 7 May 2015, the An-178 is an evolution of An-148 passenger jet. Designed to carry a payload of up to 18t, it is powered by two Ivchenko Progress D-436 engines.

Antonov has already secured a launch order for 10 of the type from Silkway Airlines, and has also signed a tentative order with Chinese company Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology.

As of early November the aircraft had accumulated over 30 flight hours. Civil certification is scheduled for the end of 2016.


Flightglobal



...

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

...

 

[Susimi]

Very impressed by the shot of the cockpit and equally impressed by how futuristic it all looks. Minimal dials and all the info up on screens.

Does the AN-178 have STOL capabilities or is it just a standard transport plane?

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Very impressed by the shot of the cockpit and equally impressed by how futuristic it all looks. Minimal dials and all the info up on screens.

Does the AN-178 have STOL capabilities or is it just a standard transport plane?

Quote :

Paris Air Show 2015: An-178 – First Time In France

PUBLISHED AT: WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015, 8:59

Booth of the Ukrainian Antonov company gains a lot of attention during the Paris Le Bourget Air Show, as it features the latest Antonov’s transport aircraft – the AN-178. The aeroplane made its maiden flight a month ago, it is an interesting offer for numerous potential customers. The design interconnects the speed of a jet-propelled airframe together with the abilities of landing on unprepared airstrips, it also offers significant payload carrying capacity and range. The design is even more attractive, when one realizes that the Antonov’s new jet may use western avionics and engines.

The Antonov company has gathered significant experience within the field of the transport aviation, however, in the light of the crisis situation between Moscow and Kiev the company is looking for new target markets. An-178 is to be available both with the indigenous, as well as the western avionics. It is also possible to order the plane with a Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce or GE power-plant.

An-178 is the latest Antonov’s design, its maiden flight took place in autumn 2015. This aircraft is based on a very successful family of the An-148/158 jet liners and it shares numerous components with these designs, including avionics and engines.

It is a transport aircraft which is capable of carrying large-volume loads, such as the sea transport containers, 90 soldiers with a full kit of equipment or 80 paratroops. When it comes to its dimensions and mass, An-178 falls within the class between C-27 Spartan or An-74 and much larger aircraft such as C-130, An-70 or A400M. Brazilian Embraeer KC-390 is a design of similar class.

The Ukrainian jet is configured in a way which would make it possible for it to replace the An-12 turboprops which are quite popular in Asia and Africa. Usually they carry 11-12 tonnes of load at distances of 2-3 thousand kilometres. The data is related to almost 70% of the transport sorties realized by this type of aircraft. An-178 is capable of realizing such operations with fuel consumption at a level similar to An-12, however its speed is 35% higher, thanks to the fact that the new design uses turbo-jet propulsion. The aircraft’s economic ceiling is 12200 meters – An-12 reaches altitudes of up to 8500 meters.

With the maximum payload capacity of 18 tonnes, An-178 is capable of covering distances longer than 1000 km. With an average load of 10 tonnes, the aircraft is capable to reach the range of 4000 km. Maximum speed – 825 km/h. An-178 has STOL capabilities, and is capable of using unprepared runways, which expands its operational capabilities, particularly within the areas that do not have sufficient infrastructure. The price is estimated at the level of USD 20-25 million per single example, depending on its avionics and configuration.

The more expensive variants are said to utilize the western avionics, and – probably – the new western power-plant. Despite the above, the An-178 price, is, according to the claims made by the manufacturer, two times lower than in case of the western designs with similar operational capabilities. The Antonov company hopes to convince numerous new users to acquire the new airplane – not only those who represent the traditional markets. So far, Ukrainian Armed Forces, several civilian users and a Chinese company which is willing to obtain a license for manufacturing the new Antonovs within the local market have all expressed interest in the new design created by the Ukrainian manufacturer.


Defence24



...