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Russia Resumes Funding for Joint An-70 Military Transport Program
Renewed impetus for the joint development and production of the Russo/Ukrainian Antonov An-70 four-propfan heavy-lift transport aircraft is expected from recent summit agreements between the two partners. Since its first flight on Dec. 16, 1994, An-70 development has been in progress by the binational Medium Transport Aircraft International Consortium (MTAIC), which originated in 1993. Flight tests so far completed include 345 stalls in 45 different configurations of the An-70's extensive high-lift devices at various power settings of its ZMKB Progress/Zaporozhye D-27 propfans.
Loads of up to 35.3 tons total weight have been paradropped on four platforms from altitudes between 1,650 and 13,000 ft. in completely automatic modes. Flights have also been successfully completed with a normal maximum cargo load of 35 tons and an overload of 47 tons, while earlier this summer, the An-70 demonstrated its ability to carry a 20-ton payload over a 1,620 nmi range after a takeoff run of only 664 yds, from unpaved airstrips, if required.
Under the original MTAIC agreement, Russian air force An-70 requirements totaled 164 aircraft-to be locally completed by the Polyot manufacturers' association for the airframe and the Salyut/Stupino groups for the D-27/CB-27 propfan units. Similar tasks are being undertaken in the Ukraine by the AVIANT Kiev State plant and Motor Sich joint-stock company, respectively, for 65 air force An-70s. AVIANT has already started production of five An-70s, but Russian progress with the program had been practically halted due to prolonged defense budget economies.
At a June 16 Russo/Ukraine three-day summit meeting, however, General Vladimir Mikhailov, C-in-C of the Russian Federation air force (RFAF), said, "Mutual understanding was reached in almost all the questions [discussed], and we signed agreements aimed to continue trials of the An-70. Now the task of the Russian and Ukrainian partners is to solve all the questions in the approved terms." His Ukrainian opposite number, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Skalko, said when signing the renewed agreement that the An-70 would survive, and is the best aircraft in its class. The joint understanding would assist the An-70 to enter service "in a short time."
These views were endorsed earlier this month at a meeting in Crimea of the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers, which included agreement on continuation of the An-70 as a joint program, and resumption of financial support from Moscow. Joint state flight tests will also be resumed, and a working group will be formed to coordinate future activities. Russian Defense Ministry specialists will be sent to the Ukraine; a draft joint program is being considered for the work involved in completing An-70 design, development and service introduction.
—John Fricker
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