OREANDA-NEWS. On 16 February 2009 was announced, that within the period of 11 to 15 of February ANTONOV ASTC participated in AEROINDIA’2009 the international aeronautic exhibition, which took place in Bangalore, India.

For the first time the programme of AN-74 new multi-role maritime patrol aircraft was represented to a wide aviation community. At present, this version of the aircraft is being studied by experts of MoD of India within the frame of tender on delivery of 6 aircraft of such a class for Navy and Coast Guard of the country. The new AN-74 is prepared to fulfill with a high efficiency a wide spectrum of military tasks including: aerial and maritime patrolling, support of military ships with the possibility to counteract to an enemy, carrying out search and rescue operations; electronic and radio reconnaissance; determination of pollution of the sea surface.

If necessary it may be re-equipped easily for transportation people, evacuation of sick and wounded persons. Cargo cabin with volume of 26 mі, highly-mechanized hatch-ramp and airborne loading/unloading equipment allow to perform autonomous loading-unloading and transportation of wide spectrum of cargoes as well as its paradropping. Due to its unique design AN-74 can be operated from poor equipped runways (including ground, pebble, snowy and icy ones). In STOL mode it can transport up to 6 t of cargoes. Simplicity in service, availability of airborne loading equipment provide long-term operation of the airplane far from airdromes. It took the best characteristics of the previous airplanes of the family, which are operated successfully in military divisions of different countries. They were actively used in military operations, carried soldiers, troops of special services, various cargoes, including spacecraft and auxiliary equipment for them, evacuated ill and wounded persons, struggled with pirates, stopped poachers, guarded maritime boundaries, detected and participated in detention of trespasser-ships.

A new version of AN-74 differs from its predecessors with a number of considerable improvements. It made possible realization of conception of a radical modernization of the AN-74, developed by ANTONOV specialists in cooperation with the partners including those from France, Germany and Sweden. It includes mounting the glass cockpit, the newest instruments of piloting, navigation and communication. Besides, power plant and APU, aircraft and engine control systems, fuel, hydraulic systems and many others. The most modern technologies will be used for aftersale support of the airplane, its maintenance and repair.

Within the exhibition negotiations concerning other perspective directions of cooperation were conducted. ANTONOV is sure that AEROINDIA-2009 will become a starting point of the new joint programmes joining efforts of aviation enterprises of India and Ukraine.