Antonov to assemble modified Ukrainian aircraft in Canada

Ukraine and Canada are preparing a large-scale project involving the production of modified An-74TK-200 aircraft for international markets, the press service of Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom has said.

"Antonov and the Quebec government are ready to facilitate the signing of an agreement between the Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ukroboronprom State Concern and its enterprises on the production of An-74TK-200 aircraft for international markets, including North American markets," the report said.

In particular, the company Antonov-Canada has been created to organize cooperation and establish the work of the design bureau for research and development, exploration, and testing, on the basis of which a model aircraft will be manufactured for flight tests.

According to the report, the most promising model for the realization of this ambitious goal is the An-74TK-200 model of the aircraft, developed by the Antonov Design Bureau, which was mass-produced at the Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

During the design phase of the modifications that is currently underway, emphasis will be put on the project's compliance with the certification criteria of the Canadian aviation authority – Transport Canada – which can significantly speed up the future certification process.

Ukroboronprom recalled that the An-74TK-200 model was critically dependent on the use of a significant number of components produced in Russia, which restrain the mandatory certification of aircraft in international markets.

"First of all, this concerns the critical dependence on the use of a significant number of components produced in Russia, which in turn do not meet modern requirements, restrain the mandatory certification of aircraft in European and American markets," Ukroboronprom said.

The final model assembly will be organized at production facilities in Ukraine and Canada.

The An-74TK-200 aircraft is designed to carry 52 passengers, cargo up to ten tonnes, and mixed passengers and cargo transportation on international short- and medium-haul air routes. The maximum take-off weight of the aircraft is 36.5 tonnes, the maximum flight altitude is 10,100 meters, the cruising speed is 600-700 km/h, the flight range with a load of ten tonnes is 950 km, and that with a load of 1.8 tonnes is 4,250 km. The crew consists of two people.

This aircraft can be used under particularly severe operating conditions, such as Arctic and high mountain, temporary, natural runways, with minimal or no technical support infrastructure, is an inherent market advantage of this model.