KYIV. Dec 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine plans to supply 30 new multipurpose An-178 aircraft with a carrying capacity of 18 tonnes to the Air Force of Saudi Arabia.
The cooperation plans are outlined in a memorandum signed by Antonov State Enterprise (Kyiv) and Taqnia Aeronautics (Saudi Arabia) on December 17, 2015 in Kyiv, the press service of the state enterprise reported on Friday.
Retired Major General Ali Mohammed Al−Ghamdi, Chief Executive Officer of Taqnia Aeronautics company, said after the signing of the document that Saudi Arabia considers the signing of the memorandum as an important step in developing cooperation.
He said that Saudi Arabia selected An-178 aircraft, taking into account the characteristics of the new Ukrainian transport aircraft.
“The important advantages of An-178 compared to other aircraft of this type are its price and low exploitation expenses,” he said.
“We will conduct a joint marketing policy to promote An-178 to the Middle Eastern region markets and plan joint production of these aircraft,” he said.
Antonov Vice President Oleksandr Kotsiuba said that Ukraine considers plans to cooperate with Air Force of Saudi Arabia in the An-178 program as the confirmation of mutual desire to establish strategic partnership between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia in the aircraft building sector.
