Antonov An-32

Antonov An-32

Company type	Military transport aircraft
Industry	Aerospace
Predecessor	Antonov An-26
Founder	Antonov
Defunct	2012
Fate	Production ended
Successor	Antonov/Taqnia An-132
Headquarters	Kyiv , Soviet Union/Ukraine
Area served	Global (military and civilian operators)
Products	An-32 aircraft series
Owner	Antonov Serial Production Plant
Parent	Antonov

| name = An-32 | image = AirMark Antonov An-32 Spijkers-2.jpg | caption = AirMark's An-32 | type = Military transport aircraft | national_origin = Soviet Union/Russia/Ukraine | design_group = Antonov | manufacturer = Antonov Serial Production Plant | first_flight = 9 July 1976 | produced = 1982–2012 | number_built = 373 | status = Active service | primary_user = Indian Air Force | more_users = National Air Force of Angola
Sri Lanka Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force | developed_from = Antonov An-26 | developed_into = Antonov/Taqnia An-132

The Antonov An-32 (designated Cline by NATO) is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft designed for military transport missions. Its maiden flight took place in July 1976, followed by a public debut at the 1977 Paris Air Show. Engineered for operation in challenging weather scenarios, it was manufactured from 1980 through 2012 and continues to be operational. The An-32 represents the fourth iteration within the Antonov An-24 series, succeeding the Antonov An-24, Antonov An-30, and Antonov An-26, and preceding the ultimately cancelled Antonov/Taqnia An-132.

Design and development

The An-32 is fundamentally an upgraded variant of the Antonov An-26, featuring re-engined modifications. It was developed to enhance performance under severe weather conditions beyond that of its predecessor. The aircraft was publicly introduced at the Paris Air Show in May 1977. A key distinguishing feature is its engines mounted 1.5 meters above the wing, a design choice aimed at reducing damage from debris encountered on rough or unprepared runways.

This model incorporates high-lift wings equipped with automatic leading-edge slats, expansive triple-slotted trailing edge flaps, and a larger tailplane. It benefits from a substantial power increase, resulting in better takeoff capabilities and higher operational ceilings. The elevated engine nacelles accommodate larger propellers powered by 5,100 hp rated Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop engines, nearly doubling the output compared to the An-26’s AI-24 engines.

Manufacturing took place primarily at the Government Aircraft Factory located in Kyiv, producing 123 units for the Indian Air Force, reflecting strong diplomatic ties between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The majority of production served the Russian and Ukrainian Air Forces, with annual outputs reaching approximately 40 aircraft during the late 1980s and early 1990s. A modernized version of the An-32 has an estimated cost of around 15 million US dollars.

Production concluded in 2012.

Production figures

Manufacturing totals

Total	1976	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	2005	2007	2008	2010	2011	2012
373	1	1	5	29	31	26	54	28	48	11	49	47	10	4	8	5	2	1	4	1	3	5

Service record

The An-32 is renowned for its exceptional takeoff performance in hot climates and at high altitudes, capable of operating effectively at temperatures up to 55 °C (131 °F) and elevations reaching 4,500 m (14,800 ft). It is well-suited for medium tactical military transport missions as well as civilian applications. Primarily utilized for cargo transport over short to medium distances, the aircraft is adaptable for roles including air-dropping supplies, passenger transport, medical evacuation, firefighting operations, skydiving, and paratrooper deployment.

Introduced during the 1980s, the An-32 has been employed by various air forces such as those of Ukraine, Russia, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Mexico, and Sudan.Template:Fix/category

Models

File:MNS An-32.jpg

An An-32 firefighting aircraft from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine releasing water over a forest blaze.

• An-32 : Basic twin-engine transport aircraft
• An-32A : Initial civilian model; most of the limited production run of thirty-six were assigned to government industrial enterprises for inter-factory cargo transport.
• An-32B : Enhanced variant with improvements
• An-32B-100 : Upgraded An-32B version featuring an increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 28.5 tons and a payload capacity raised to 7.5 tons.
• An-32B-110 : Equipped with updated avionics enabling operation by a two-person crew; features metric (Russian) avionics systems.
• An-32B-120 : Variant of the An-32B-110 outfitted with imperial (non-Russian) avionics.
• An-32B-300 : Model powered by Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engines, each delivering approximately 4,600 hp.
• An-32LL (Letayushchaya Laboratoriya - flying laboratory): The initial prototype modified with a large SV-36P eight-blade propeller and D-236 engine on the port side for experimental purposes. The increased noise level (115–120 dB) outweighed the modest performance improvements.
• An-32MP : Maritime patrol adaptation.
• An-32P Firekiller : Specialized firefighting variant certified on March 10, 1995. Capable of discharging up to eight tons of liquid from twin external tanks either simultaneously or sequentially. Fire retardant drops are conducted at altitudes between 40 and 50 meters and speeds ranging from 240 to 260 km/h. When not engaged in firefighting duties, it can operate as a cargo transporter.
• An-32V-200 : Tactical transport/cargo derivative based on the An-32B-100 featuring modern avionics designed for two-person crews. Intended primarily for export markets; despite some interest, sales have been limited.
• An-32 RE : Modernized An-32B model with MTOW increased to 28.5 tons and payload capacity enhanced to 7.5 tons. Incorporates advanced avionics systems.

Operators

File:S3-ACB Bangladesh Air Force An-32 (24081506344) (cropped).jpg

Antonov An-32 of the Bangladesh Air Force touching down

File:An Antonov An-32 of the Indian Air Force.jpg

The Indian Air Force's Antonov An-32 transport aircraft during the 2024 Republic Day Flypast.

File:Sri Lankan Air Force Antonov An-32B SDS.jpg

Antonov An-32B operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

File:Sun Air Charter Antonov An-32 UA-320-1.jpg

Sun Air Charter's An-32 at Lokichogio Airport.

File:Croatian AN-32B Ruzyne.jpg

Antonov An-32B belonging to the Croatian Air Force.

File:Mexican Navy Antonov An-32B 2009 Belyakov.jpg

An Antonov An-32B of the Mexican Navy departing from Kyiv-Zhuliany in 2009.

Military operators

In addition to those in service with the Ukrainian and Russian Air Forces, over 240 An-32 aircraft are actively used by various nations globally.

File:AN-32 cargo plane of the Afghan Air Force.jpg

An Antonov An-32 operated by the Afghan Air Force

• The Afghan Air Force received no fewer than six units starting in 1987. The Taliban Air Force utilized three of these aircraft. - As of 2024, two remain operational.

• The People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola operates a fleet of seven An-32s.

• The Bangladesh Air Force maintains three An-32 aircraft within its 3 Squadron 'Unicorns'. This includes two An-32Bs and one An-32C. These have undergone overhaul and life extension upgrades by SE PLANT 410 CA in Ukraine.

• The Colombian National Army Aviation operates two An-32 aircraft.

• The Congolese Air Force has two An-32s currently active.

• One An-32 remains in service with the Ethiopian Air Force.

• The Indian Air Force acquired approximately 125 units, with around 105 still operational. The entire fleet is undergoing modernization; to date, thirty-five upgraded An-32s have been delivered by Ukrspetsexport. Modernization efforts include installation of advanced avionics, updated oxygen systems, and enhanced crew seating. Remaining aircraft are being upgraded domestically. Eventually, these will be replaced under the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. Plans for upgrading an additional sixty An-32s within India are scheduled through FY2028–29 at a pace of fifteen per overhaul cycle, managed by the Base Repair Depots in Kanpur and Chandigarh.

• Between November 2011 and October 2012, six An-32Bs were delivered from Ukraine to the Iraqi Air Force, initially assigned to the 23rd Squadron alongside C-130s. In May 2013, Iraq established the 33rd Squadron specifically for operating its An-32 fleet.

• The Mexican Air Force operates one An-32.
• The Mexican Naval Aviation also fields one An-32B.

• The Peruvian Air Force has three An-32 aircraft.
• The Peruvian Army operates two An-32Bs.
• The Peruvian Naval Aviation utilizes one ex-Hungarian An-32B.

• Four Antonov An-32 aircraft are active within the Sri Lanka Air Force.

• The Sudanese Air Force maintains six operational An-32s.

Ex-military users

File:An-32 (12549136855).jpg

A Libyan An-32 in 2009

• Armenian Air Force: One An-32 in service

• Croatian Air Force: Previously operated two An-32B aircraft. These were upgraded in 2004, later retired, and offered for sale in 2014 after being deemed surplus. Both units were relocated to Ukraine during 2023/24.

• Military of Ivory Coast: Operates a single An-32

• Equatorial Guinea Air Force: Had one An-32; lost in an accident in 2008.

• Jordanian Air Force operator

• Libyan Air Force

• Military of Rwanda user

Civilian operators

As of July 2016, there were 25 Antonov An-32 aircraft actively flying with commercial airlines. The largest fleet was maintained by Aero Transporte S.A (ATSA) from Peru, which operated four aircraft. Additionally, around sixteen other carriers maintained smaller quantities of this model.

Accidents and incidents

• On 25 March 1986, an Indian Air Force An-32 vanished over the Arabian Sea during a delivery flight originating from the Soviet Union, with a stopover at Muscat International Airport, Oman. Neither the aircraft nor its seven occupants—three crew and four passengers—were ever located.
• On 15 July 1990, an Indian Air Force An-32 crashed within the Ponmudi Mountain Range while en route from Tambaram Air Force Station to Thiruvananthapuram, India.
• On 22 November 1995, a Sri Lankan Air Force An-32B chartered from Kazakhstan was shot down during landing at Jaffna, resulting in the death of all 63 military personnel onboard.Template:Fix/category
• On 8 January 1996, an An-32 cargo plane crashed into a densely populated market area in Kinshasa, then Zaire, killing approximately 237 civilians on the ground. The crew attempted to abort takeoff at Kinshasa-N'Dolo Airport after failing to gain altitude. Four out of six crew members survived. Overloading was considered a potential cause.
• On 12 February 1998, a Sudanese Air Force An-32 carrying 51 individuals overran the runway upon landing and crashed into a river, causing the deaths of 26 passengers including several high-ranking government officials such as Vice-President Zubair Mohamed Salih.
• On 28 March 1998, a Peruvian Air Force An-32 with dual civil/military registration OB-1389/FAP-388 was evacuating fifty flood victims near Piura when it suffered engine failure on approach to Cap. FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport. Due to overloading, the pilot could not maintain altitude; the aircraft collided with three houses in a nearby shantytown before crashing into a canal. The five crew survived while twenty-one passengers and one individual on the ground perished.
• On 26 August 2007, an An-32B operated by Great Lakes Business Company carrying nine tons of minerals along with twelve passengers and three crew members experienced engine failure shortly after departing Kongolo Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and crashed while attempting to return to the airfield. Fourteen out of fifteen occupants died.
• On 11 April 2008, Kata Air Transport Flight 7, an An-32 aircraft, crashed during its return to the airport due to engine failure, resulting in eight fatalities.
• On 10 June 2009, an Indian Air Force An-32 carrying thirteen personnel crashed shortly after takeoff from Mechuka Airport in Arunachal Pradesh near the China border; all onboard were declared dead. Following this incident, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukraine for upgrading its fleet of An-32s to extend their operational lifespan by nearly fifteen years.
• On 12 December 2014, an An-32 operated by Sri Lanka Air Force carrying five crew members crashed while approaching Ratmalana Airport after departing Katunayaka Bandaranayake International Airport. The pilot, co-pilot, and two aircrew died immediately; the fifth crew member sustained critical injuries and passed away six days later.
• On 22 July 2016, an Indian Air Force An-32 (registration K2743) flying from Chennai to Port Blair disappeared over the Bay of Bengal with twenty-nine people onboard. The aircraft departed Tambaram Air Base at approximately 8:30 am but vanished from radar at about 9:12 am around two hundred eighty kilometers east of Chennai. On January 12, 2024, India's Ministry of Defence announced discovery of the wreckage following a joint search operation involving the National Institute of Ocean Technology. The debris was located at a depth of approximately 3,400 metres (11,200 ft) and about one hundred forty nautical miles (310 km) off Chennai's coast. The discovery was made incidentally by a research vessel calibrating instruments in that area.
• On October 3, 2018, two Sudanese Air Force Antonovs—a type An-32 and an An-30—collided on the ground at Khartoum International Airport.
• On June 3, 2019, an Indian Air Force An-32 went missing shortly after takeoff from Jorhat Air Base in Assam near Arunachal Pradesh. The wreckage was discovered eight days later in Arunachal Pradesh with all thirteen personnel onboard confirmed deceased.

Specifications (An-32)

Orthographic view of the Antonov An-32.

Orthographic view of the Antonov An-32.

References

Bibliography

• Delalande, Arnaud. Iraqi Air Power Reborn, The Iraqi air arms since 2004. Houston: Harpia Publishing, 2016. ISBN 978-0-9854554-7-7.
• Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182 No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012, pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
• Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 184 No. 5419, 10–16 December 2013, pp. 24–51. ISSN 0015-3710.
• Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 188 No. 5517, 8–14 December 2015, pp. 26–53. ISSN 0015-3710.
• Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. London: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
• Thisdell, Dan and Fafard, Antoine. "World Airliner Census". Flight International, Vol. 190 No. 5550, 9–15 August 2016, pp. 20–43. ISSN 0015-3710.

External links

• Commons category
• Official Website
• Indian Air Force AN-32 Photo Collection