Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are working out a scheme for promising industrial cooperation under the program of the new An-132 light multi-purpose aircraft with a payload capacity of 9.2 tonnes, which was designed by the Kyiv-based Antonov State Enterprise and which will be mass-produced on the territory of the Saudi customer.
According to Antonov’s press service, the plans of industrial cooperation agreed upon by the parties, at the initial stage of the An-132 program, are stipulated in a memorandum of understanding signed by the enterprise with Saudi Arabia’s Taqnia Aeronautics and WAHAJ as part of the 4th AFED 2018 defense exhibition, which is taking place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) from February 25 to March 3.
Taqnia Aeronautics acts as a division of the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company, and WAHAJ is a subsidiary of the Saudi International Petrochemical Company (SIPCHEM).
According to the agreement of the parties, it is planned that at the initial stage of production the first batch of An-132s will be built at the facilities of the Antonov State Enterprise in cooperation with Saudi partners.
At the same time, Antonov will act as the main executor of the work, whereas Taqnia and WAHAJ will produce units and elements in accordance with a cooperation scheme. In particular, WAHAJ will produce chassis and equipment for the aircraft.
“Subsequent stages envisage the deepening of cooperation in the production of Antonov aircraft based on the strategic plan for the creation of production facilities in Saudi Arabia,” the report says.
