Antonov/Taqnia An-132

Antonov/Taqnia An-132

Company type	Joint venture (planned)
Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	2014
Fate	Project halted in April 2019
Headquarters	Kyiv , Ukraine
Area served	Ukraine, Saudi Arabia (planned)
Key people	Oleksandr Donets (Antonov CEO)
Products	Military transport aircraft (An-132)
Owner	Antonov, Taqnia (Saudi Arabia)

Overview

The Antonov/Taqnia An-132 represented an upgraded iteration of the twin-turboprop military transport aircraft Antonov An-32, developed through a collaboration between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. This model was intended to serve as the fifth variant within the Antonov An-24 series. However, the initiative was halted in April 2019 after Saudi Arabia withdrew its backing and the Royal Saudi Air Force, initially the primary customer, canceled its procurement plans. The sole completed prototype, designated An-132D, suffered significant damage during the February 2022 Battle of Antonov Airport. Following these events, no new information regarding the An-132 program has been released by Antonov.

Origins

The An-132 traces its lineage back to the Antonov An-24, a Soviet-era short-haul passenger turboprop aircraft developed in the late 1950s. Its key strength was the capability to operate from rough and undeveloped airstrips, making it a favored choice within Soviet aviation and among allied nations in the Comecon. The Antonov Design Bureau led the design efforts, while manufacturing was carried out extensively at facilities including the Kyiv Aviation Plant, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, and Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

During the 1960s, a military adaptation known as the Antonov An-26 was introduced for use by the Soviet Air Forces.

In response to requirements from the Indian Air Force during the 1980s, particularly for operations in high-altitude regions of Northern India, the An-26 was upgraded with more powerful Ivchenko AI-20 engines. This enhanced variant was designated as the Antonov An-32. Production of this model continued post-Soviet Union dissolution at the Aviant Aviation Plant.

Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, diplomatic ties between Ukraine’s new government and Russia worsened. Since Antonov’s industrial supply chains were largely inherited from Soviet times and closely linked to Russian partners, this situation compelled the company to seek alternative collaborations. Toward the end of 2014, Saudi Arabia entered into discussions with Ukraine to develop a modernized aircraft based on the An-32, replacing its Soviet and Russian components with Western technology.

The revamped An-132 incorporated several significant upgrades compared to its predecessor. The original Ivchenko AI-20 engines produced by Motor Sich were substituted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 turboprops, commonly found on regional airliners. Avionics systems were supplied by American company Honeywell, while the auxiliary power unit came from United Technologies. Additionally, British-made propellers and French air management systems were integrated alongside various other European and American components, effectively replacing former Russian parts. These enhancements enabled the An-132 to achieve double the range of the An-32 and increased its cargo capacity from 6,700kg to 9,200kg.

A Saudi state-owned enterprise named Taqnia played a leading role in this collaboration. The plan included establishing a production facility in Riyadh by 2017, aiming for operational manufacturing lines both in Saudi Arabia and Ukraine by 2018.

Design

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The prototype during production.

The An-132 is a transport aircraft powered by turboprop engines. Although it retains the aerodynamic design characteristics of its forerunner, the An-32, it replaces many components originally sourced from Soviet and Russian manufacturers with parts produced in Western Europe and the United States.

This aircraft is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 turboprop engines, which turn six-bladed R408 propellers manufactured by Dowty Propellers. This combination generates 5,071 shp and enables the An-132 to perform takeoffs under challenging "hot and high" conditions, as well as operate effectively in remote environments.

Its systems include avionics supplied by Honeywell, an air management system from Liebherr, and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) provided by Hamilton Sundstrand.

Operational history

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20 December 2016 roll out

The Antonov An-132 faced difficulties competing against European and American rivals, compounded by limited access to its traditional Russian-aligned customer base. In 2015, an initial order of 80 units was announced by the Royal Saudi Air Force, highlighting the aircraft’s versatility for both military and civilian applications. Nonetheless, with the RSAF concurrently negotiating acquisitions of additional Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and EADS CASA C-295 aircraft, opportunities for the An-132 were constrained. Saudi Arabia’s initial financial commitment amounted to $150 million USD, covering approximately one-third of development expenses and two-thirds of testing costs. The construction of an An-132D technology demonstrator commenced in 2015, culminating in a prototype rollout at Sviatoshyn Airfield in Kyiv on a snowy morning in December 2016. The aircraft was showcased publicly, with Antonov emphasizing its capabilities in demanding environments such as desert operations.

In March 2017, the prototype undertook its first flight en route to Riyadh to undergo testing under desert conditions. Concurrently, 50 Saudi engineers began training at the Antonov Technical School; however, manufacturing facilities had not yet been established in Saudi Arabia. During the Paris Air Show in June 2017, plans were announced to initiate a Saudi Arabian production line. A variant tailored for Saudi Arabia was also revealed, featuring extensive use of composite materials produced domestically within the kingdom. Flight testing of the An-132 prototype continued through 2017 and 2018.

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An-132 at Aero India 2019.

At Aero India in February 2019, officials from Ukraine and India explored offering the An-132 as a potential successor to their existing fleet of An-32 transport aircraft. The aircraft performed several demonstration flights during the event.

In April 2019, Antonov CEO Oleksandr Donets confirmed that collaboration had been halted and that Taqnia was no longer participating in the project. Saudi Arabia did not provide any official statement regarding this development. Aviation analysts suggest that this shift resulted from the RSAF prioritizing expansion of their existing fleets such as the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. Other theories propose that the suspension was linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s anti-corruption measures and governmental budget consolidation or that Saudi Arabia never fully committed to the project.

By 2021, the aircraft’s registration was canceled by the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine following expiration of its airworthiness certificate. The prototype sustained severe damage during the Battle of Antonov Airport in 2022.

Variants

• An-132D: The initial production model of this aircraft, with only one unit manufactured.

Conceptual variants

Antonov explored several An-132 models that remained at the conceptual phase without further development.

• AN-132ISR: Variant designed for electronic warfare operations.
• AN-132MPA: Model intended for maritime patrol duties.
• AN-132 Gunship: Lightly armed aircraft aimed at counter-insurgency missions.
• AN-132ME: Configuration dedicated to medical evacuation.
• AN-132SAR: Adapted for coast guard and search and rescue functions.
• AN-132FF: Version specialized for firefighting tasks.

Former operators

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• Antonov State Enterprise - Operated a single prototype An-132D. In 2021, the aircraft’s registration was cancelled by the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine due to the expiration of its airworthiness certificate.

Cancelled orders

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• Royal Saudi Air Force - Originally placed an order for 80 units in 2015, later scaled down to a commitment for six aircraft. This order was ultimately cancelled in favor of expanding its fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical transports.

Accidents and incidents

• On 24 February 2022, the sole prototype An-132, registered as UR-EXK, sustained damage during the Battle of Antonov Airport. The left wing was irreparably harmed, alongside considerable shrapnel damage affecting the engine and fuselage. At that time, the aircraft was not certified as airworthy.