MONITORING DESK: Ukraine and Turkey are moving to the practical implementation of a joint project to create an AN-188 (Antonov-188) military transport aircraft that will carry over 300 soldiers along with tanks, helicopters and other military hardware.
According to official Facebook page of government of Ukraine, the draft (project) military transport aircraft provides for a complete westernization of all components, the introduction of modern and reliable technical solutions, as well as full compliance with NATO standards, both in terms of equipment and tactics of the aircraft.
According to available information, the new aircraft will be able to transport military equipment of all kinds, military and construction equipment, helicopters, up to 300 soldiers, as well as humanitarian supplies, pallets and containers.
A prospective military transport turbojet will be a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons.
An-188 will be able to base on various airfields, including – on ground, and sit on short strips of a length of only 600-800 meters.
The Ukrainian state-owned defence and aerospace holding group Ukroboronprom, has disclosed details of An-188 military cargo aircraft that makes Antonov series.
It is pertinent to mention that discussion for developing a huge military cargo aircraft were held after Airshow Eurasia-2018 in Antalya, Turkey and idea of AN-188 STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) military transport aircraft was unveiled.
Officials from Antonov said that Ukraine will develop a family of new aircraft on basis of An-70. The new family would consist of 3 air platforms with different turbofan engines. The aircraft called the An-188-100 will be equipped with four D-436-148FM three-shaft high by-pass turbofan engines developed by the Ukrainian company Ivchenko-Progress.
According to different military blogs, all new aircraft of An-188 family will be capable of basing on different airfields, including air strips, and landing on short runways of only 600-800 m in length. This greatly expands the number of airfields the aircraft can be used on, ensuring the high efficiency of the new aircraft.
The new aircraft will have an advanced glass cockpit with newest flight navigation and communication equipment. The An188 has the capability to fly distances up to 7,700 km, at a cruising altitude up to 12,100 m, and at a speed of up to 800 km/h depending on aircraft and engine type and variant.
The An-188 military transport turbojet aircraft with a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons will be capable of carrying military equipment of all kinds. It will be capable of carrying military and construction equipment, helicopters, infantry combat vehicles, tank, artillery systems, up to 300 soldiers, as well as humanitarian cargoes, pallets and containers.
