Ukrainian AN-178-100R prototype flies to Poland
10 October, 2024 An-178-100R prototype in Poland. October 2024. Photo credits: Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport
The prototype of the Ukrainian An-178-100R military transport aircraft flew to Poland. Zbiam reported on this. The Polish airport's press service reported that the aircraft arrived at Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport on October 9.
It is reported that the An-178-100R prototype's flight originated from Ukraine, but the transponder that allows tracking the flight was turned on only over Poland. At the Polish airport, the AN-178-100R will join another Ukrainian aircraft by the Antonov State Enterprise, which is currently mothballed, awaiting its fate.
An-178-100R prototype in Poland. October 2024.
Photo credits: Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport
The AN-178-100R No.
001 was designed to conduct flight and certification tests of this type of aircraft. In December 2021, the aircraft completed the import substitution of components: equipment from domestic and Western suppliers was installed. The AN-178-100R is designed to transport personnel (up to 100 people), equipment, and cargo.
It can land weapons and light military equipment by landing and parachuting, as well as carry out medical evacuation of the wounded and injured. As previously reported, the Antonov State Enterprise received the state order for three AN-178 aircraft for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on December 29, 2020. In January 2021, the company started production of these military transport aircraft.
An-178-100R No.
001. December 2021. Photo credits: Vitaliy Kupriy/Facebook
The construction of new aircraft for the needs of the Ukrainian Air Force was to be carried out under state guarantees.
JSC Ukreximbank provided funds to finance the project of three new AN-178 aircraft. The first production AN-178 was scheduled to be delivered to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in the spring of 2023. However, the full-scale war affected the work of the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer.
Construction status of the second AN-178-100R No.
008 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
February 2022.
Photo credits: Oleksandr Mamai
Shortly before the large-scale invasion of the Russian invasion forces, the Antonov State Enterprise demonstrated to journalists the state of construction of the An-178-100P aircraft for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.