Antonov An-70

infobox Aircraft
name = An-70
type = Transport
manufacturer = Aviant

---

caption =
designer =
first flight = 16 December 1994 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/an-70.htm Antonov-70] ]
introduced =
retired =
produced =
number built = 2 prototypes
status = Coming to the end of flight and certification tests, programme. [ [http://www.antonov.com/products/air/transport/AN-70/index.xml AN-70 - Cargo Aircraft of a New Generation] ]
unit cost = US$ 50-55 million 60-70 million (export) [uk icon [http://www.niss.gov.ua/cacds/archgiveu/pub57.htm Uzbekistan to take part in production of An-70] ]
primary user = Antonov Design Bureau
more users =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Antonov An-70 is a next-generation four-engine medium-distance transport aircraft, and the first large aircraft to be powered by propfan engines. Developed by Ukraine's Antonov design bureau to replace the obsolete An-12 military transport, work on the An-70 began in Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

The maiden flight of the first prototype took place on December 16, 1994 in Kiev, Ukraine.

History of production and marketing

Russia and Ukraine had as of 2002 agreed on a 50–50 risk-sharing deal on production. Particularly, there were plans to establish serial production of the model in both Kiev and Samara, Russia, guaranteeing employment of about 80,000 people in the two countries. The Russian government had shown interest in purchasing 160 planes for its military.

The first prototype was lost in 1995 in a mid-air collision with an Antonov 72 chase plane. [ [http://www.aeronautics.ru/news/news002/news094.htm Antonov 70 - An uncertain Future] ] The second prototype suffered damage in a 2001 emergency landing during cold-weather testing in Omsk Russia, but was repaired. [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20080215/99321253.html Russia, Ukraine to revive An-70 joint project - defense minister] ] Soon after the first crash, Russian authorities started to question the An-70's abilities and demanded further development.

In May 2005, senior Russian Air Force officials claimed that bilateral development and further testing of the plane continue, though inside sources (Piotr Butowski) reported that the An-70 was rapidly losing ground to the upgraded IL-76MF, with the Tu-330 and Il-214 coming up strongly on the outside. In November 2005, Ukraine's Defence Ministry announced plans to buy five An-70s for the Ukrainian Air Force. In December 2005, Antonov maintained that production of the aircraft remains a priority.

In April 2006, Russia announced its complete withdrawal from the project. The head of the Russian Air Force, Vladimir Mikhailov, claimed that the An-70 has grown into a heavy, expensive cargo plane. The Russian military plans to use the Ilyushin Il-76MF, which reportedly costs half as much as the An-70. After the Orange Revolution in late 2004, and with Ukraine openly aiming for NATO membership, political will for the project evaporated. Russia has provided around 60 percent of the estimated $5 billion invested in the project to date. [http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060407/45447043.html Russia to pull out of An-70 plane production] ] [ru icon [http://www.peacekeeper.ru/?mid=1117 Russian doesn't need An-70] ] [ [http://www.eastbusiness.org/laender_nl/pdf/40-10-Ukraine_Express_June5.pdf Ukraine Express June] ]

As of 2008, testing of the An-70 continues. [ [http://www.mil.gov.ua/files/white_book/white_book_en2007.pdf Ukrainian Armed Forces 2007 White Book p.24] ] Serial production could begin in a year and a half.uk icon [http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=11241 Minister of Desence: Russia agrees on continuing development] ] A turbofan-powered derivative is also under development.

Russia decided to fund production-readiness of the plane, making it available for series production by the end of 2009. [ [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairmo/articles/20080220.aspx An-70 Returns From The Dead] ]

Technology

Fully fly-by-wire, the An-70 features a glass cockpit with all electronic instruments, and uses composite materials throughout. Powered by four propfans — Progress D-27 engines, each turning a pair of contra-rotating scimitar propellers — it can reach ninety percent efficiency in cruise at jet speeds.

Orders

;RUS
*Russian Air Force - 15, 160ru icon [http://www.glavred.info/archive/2003/05/05/102113-7.html Our plane, common ground and their alliance] ] , 164;UKR
*Ukrainian Air Force - 2 [uk icon [http://www.rbc.ua/rus/newsline/2006/04/18/64480.shtml Aviant will sell 2 An-70 to Ukrainian Ministry of Defence in 2008] ] [uk icon [http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=appearance&sub=read&id=12319 July 17, 2008 Interview with Minister of Defence] ] , 5 [ [http://www.aviant.ua/eng/1947.html History of Aviant 1947-present] ] , 65;CZE
*Czech Air Force - 3;CHN
*People's Liberation Army Air Force - 20

pecifications (An-70)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew = 3-5
capacity = 300 troops or 206 wounded
payload main = 47 tonnes (2.25g)
payload alt = 103,620 lb (2.25g)
payload more = of cargo

length main = 40.7 m
length alt = 133 ft 6 in
span main = 44.06 m
span alt = 144 ft 7 in
height main = 16.38 m
height alt = 53 ft 9 in
area main =
area alt =
empty weight main = 66,230 kg
empty weight alt = 146,000 lb
loaded weight main = 108,860 kg
loaded weight alt = 240,000 lb
max takeoff weight main = 145,000 kg (2.25g)
max takeoff weight alt = 319,725 lb (2.25g)

engine (prop) = Progress D-27
type of prop = propfans
number of props = 4
power main = 10,350 kW
power alt= 14,000 hp

max speed main = 780 km/h
max speed alt = 420 knots, 485 mph
ferry range main = 8,000 km
ferry range alt = 4,320 nm, 4,970 mi
range main = 6,600 km
range alt = 3,600 nm, 4,100 mi
range more = with 20 tonnes of cargo

ceiling main = 12,000 m
ceiling alt = 40,000 ft
climb rate main = 24.9 m/s
climb rate alt = 4,900 ft/min
loading main =
loading alt =
power/mass main =
power/mass alt =

See also

Comparable aircraft

*Airbus A400M

Designation sequence

* An-22 - An-24 - An-32 - An-70 - An-71 - An-72 - An-74

References

* Reports on design progress by "Aviatsiya i Vremia" journal in Issue 2 and 3 of 1994 ru icon
* Первый полет Ан-70 // Авиация и Время. - К. : 1995. - №1. - Стр.25. (Report on first flight of the An-70 by "Aviatsiya i Vremia" journal, including photo gallery of the plane) ru icon
* "Interfax-Ukraine" news lines of December 1 and December 28, 2005; November 11, 2005; May 17, 2005 ru icon

External links

* [http://www.antonov.com/products/air/transport/AN-70/ Antonov product page]
*http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/an70-01.htm