Indian Air Force has received first batch of 5 upgraded An-32 transport aircrafts from Ukraine at Civil Aviation Plant 410 in Kiev.India signed a contract to upgrade 105 An-32s which were purchased from the former Soviet Union at cost of $400 million in June 2009.
Under contract Antonov will replace old avionics, increase the aircraft's AI-20DM engine's lifespan to 20,000 hours, time between overhauls to 4000 hours and improve the aircraft's range from 920 km to 1,400km with a payload of 6,700kg. These changes will increase the MTOW of upgraded AN-32 by 1,500kg.
Upgrade project is scheduled to be completed by end of 2017. First 40 An-32 transport aircrafts will be upgraded in Ukraine while remaining 65 An-32 transport aircrafts will be upgraded at the BRD-1 aviation plant of Indian Air Force with assistance from Antonov.
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