Ukraine considers producing new An-178 transport aircraft in China 1105151

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World Defense & Security News - Ukraine & China
 
 
Ukraine considers producing new An-178 transport aircraft in China
 
Ukrainian state-run aircraft manufacturer Antonov said Thursday, May 7, that it has signed a protocol of intent with a Chinese company, Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology Co., to produce the new transport aircraft An-178 for it in China. "The Chinese partners expressed their intention to consider the prospect of building the Ukrainian-designed transport plane in China," said a statement of Antonov reaching Xinhua, without specifying.
     
Antonov An-178 transport aircraft
     
The protocol, which was signed earlier in the day during a ceremony organized to mark the first flight of the Antonov An-178 plane in Kiev, the national capital of Ukraine, also said that the Chinese company will mull over the possibility to buy two Ukrainian-built An-178 aircraft, according to the statement.

Antonov's An-178 transport aircraft performed maiden flight, Antonov announced Thursday, May 7. First revealed in February 2010, the twin-jet An-178 is intended to replace the An-12 'Cub', the An-26 'Curl', and An-32 'Cline' airlifters.

The An-178 is a medium-sized transport aircraft capable of performing takeoffs and landings on unpaved runways. It has a payload capacity of up to 18 tonnes with a maximum speed of 800 kilometers per hour.

An-178's flight control surfaces include ailerons near the wing tips, four control spoilers, six lift-dump/speed-brake spoilers, rudder and elevators, with an emergency mechanical cable back-up system. The powerplant consists of two D-436-148FM turbofan engines, mounted on pylons under the wings and an auxiliary power unit. It can shift 18 tonnes over 1,000 km, or 10 tonnes over 4,000 km.