Thursday, August 20, 2009

DTN News: Russia, Ukraine Revive Plan To Build An-70

DTN News: Russia, Ukraine Revive Plan To Build An-70 *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - August 20, 2009: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to revive long-standing plans to produce the An-70 military transport plane, the head of the design bureau at Ukrainian aerospace company Antonov said Aug. 19. The An-70 is a tactical STOL aircraft capable of carrying the entire range of armament and combat materiel with a total weight of up to 47 t, or up to 300 armed troops, or up to 206 wounded and sick, as well as paradropping paratroopers and combat equipment, including cargo items weighing up to 20 t from high and low altitudes. An integrated onboard digital system ensures automated flight control and navigation in all latitudes, at any time of the day, in all weather conditions, and also flights over unmarked terrain, combat formation flights, takeoff from and landing on unequipped airfields, opposition to enemy's air defense assets.A multifunctional color diplay-based data presentation system and a flight control system using mini control wheels provide comfort conditions for the crew. "I am sure that we will manage this with Russia until its completion and this aircraft will be part of the Russian and Ukrainian air forces," Dmytro Kiva said at the Maks-2009 air show outside Moscow, news agencies reported. Kiva said the project could be completed as early as 2010. In a statement, the Russian defence ministry confirmed the report and said the agreement was signed by Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Ukrainian Defence Minister Valery Ivashchenko during the air show. Russia and Ukraine signed agreements on the An-70 in 1993 and 1999 but Moscow warned in 2003 that the aircraft was not safe and in 2006 it formally pulled out of the project as relations with Ukraine deteriorated. Ukraine has taken an increasingly pro-Western stance since the coming to power of President Viktor Yushchenko following the Orange Revolution protests of 2004. Its bid for NATO membership has particularly angered Russia.

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