OREANDA-NEWS. On 26 May 2008 was announced, that the delegation of Arab Republic of Egypt headed by Mr. Mahfuz, Director of Administration of Armament of Ministry of Defend of the country, visited ANTONOV ASTC. Representative delegation, which included eminent Egyptian aviation industry specialists, familiarized with the current status and possibilities of the ASTC as well as with the process of the main ANTONOV programmes development.

During the negotiations conducted by Mr. Dmytro Kiva, General Designer of the ASTC, the parties discussed possible variants and directions of strengthening of Ukrainian-Egyptian cooperation. In particular, the Egyptian party expressed its satisfaction with operational parameters of the AN-74T-200A aircraft operated by Air Forces of the country, as well as a hope the other AN-74s ordered in Ukraine will be delivered. Besides, the possibility to increase a number of aircraft of AN-74 family to be purchased by Egypt was also discussed.

The AN-32P universal aircraft intended for response to the extreme situations attracted interest of the guests as well. Appreciating this airplane, Egyptians noted that in addition to extinguishing fires of natural and man-caused origin, AN-32P can deliver rescuers to a place of a natural disaster, evacuate suffered persons, transport engineering technique and humanitarian cargoes. It was noted that such an aircraft can be successfully used in Egypt.

Besides the direct purchasing, the scientific and technical cooperation was recognized to be a perspective one. Mr. Kiva, answering the request of Mr. Mahfuz, emphasized that ANTONOV has a wide experience of interaction with the enterprises of Russia, Poland, Iran, China and is ready to study a possibility to develop a number of joint works with Egypt. The firm has technologies which are interesting for Egyptians and may become the subject of further negotiations.

As a conclusion the guests expressed satisfaction with the meeting. “We had seen that ANTONOV is the leading force of Ukrainian aviation industry, - said Mr. Mahfuz, - and intend to develop our cooperation in the future”.