Antonov Serial Production Plant

Antonov Serial Production Plant

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File:First Ukrainian serial production An-148.jpg Unveiling of the first mass-produced An-148 inside AVIANT's expansive hangar in Kyiv, 2009. An An-124 undergoing maintenance is visible in the distant corner.
Native name	Серійний завод «Антонов»
Company type	State-owned enterprise
Industry	Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1920
Founder	Government of the Ukrainian SSR and the Soviet Union
Headquarters	Kyiv , Ukraine
Key people	Dmytro Kiva (Chairman of the Board of Directors)
Products	Aircraft designed by Antonov
Parent	Antonov
Website	www.antonov.com/en/services

File:Админкорпус Авианта.jpg

Administrative headquarters

The Antonov Serial Production Plant (Ukrainian: Серійний завод «Антонов»), previously known as AVIANT (Ukrainian: АВІАНТ), is an aircraft manufacturing enterprise based in Kyiv, Ukraine. It operates as the serial production branch of the Antonov company. The plant's offices and industrial facilities are situated at the Sviatoshyn Airfield in Kyiv, positioned between the neighborhoods of Nyvky, Sviatoshyn, and Bilychi.

History

The facility was founded on 9 September 1920 by a decree from the War Industry Council, initially named "State Aircraft Plant 12" (GAZ-12). At inception, it consisted of several small, uncoordinated workshops located on Garmatna Street until World War II.

Initially, the plant focused on overhauling foreign military aircraft models. Lacking its own aerodrome, flight tests were conducted at Post-Volynsky aerodrome (Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany)). In 1922, it was renamed “Remvozdukh-6”. By 1925, under the leadership of designer Konstyantyn Kalinin, the first indigenous aircraft, the K-1, was developed and flown for the first time on 26 July 1925. The plant adopted the name “Plant 43” in 1931.

In 1932, production began on the first domestic gyroplane “4-EA” developed by TSAGI. That same year marked the start of manufacturing the high-speed six-seat aircraft, the KHAI-1, boasting a top speed of 324 km/h, a service ceiling of 7,000 meters, and a range exceeding 1,000 km while carrying up to 1,000 kg payload. Notably, it was Europe's first airplane equipped with retractable landing gear. Its maiden flight occurred on 8 October 1932, with a total output of 43 units. In 1937, production included the OKO-1 model.

Between 1939 and 1941, assembly of Mikoyan (MiG) aircraft commenced at the plant. Following bombing damage on 25 June 1941, operations were relocated to Novosibirsk’s V.P. Chkalov Facilities where fighters such as the Yak-3, Yak-6, and Yak-9, designed by Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev, were produced.

After liberation of Kyiv during the Battle of Kiev (1943), the plant resumed operations locally, focusing on overhauling PO-2 aircraft and assembling Yak fighters from components made elsewhere until WWII concluded. In 1944 it was redesignated "Plant 473" or "Organization Mailbox 11". Postwar relocation to its current site in Sviatoshyn occurred after preliminary development had started prior to 1941.

During 1947–1948, a pilot batch of five Mil Mi-1 helicopters designed by Mikhail Mil was manufactured here; however, full-scale production was shifted to another facility.

Starting in 1948, production commenced on the iconic An-2, conceived by designer Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov. The plant produced eighteen variants of this model including transport, passenger, agricultural, firefighting water bomber versions, fish shoal survey aircraft, and specialized planes for Arctic scientific and rescue missions. Over its lifetime, Aviant manufactured approximately 3,320 An-2s.

From 1954 to 1956, a prototype military transport aircraft—the twin-engine turboprop An-8—was built at Aviant. This model initiated a long series of high-wing Antonov transports featuring rear cargo ramps. Between 1959 and 1978, production focused on the An-24, with a total output surpassing one thousand units (1,028 airplanes). In 1967, the plant was renamed “Kyiv Aircraft Plant” or “Organization Mailbox M-5249”.

The period from 1969 to 1985 saw manufacture of the transport-oriented An-26, totaling around 1,402 units. In addition, in 1973 an aerial survey variant—the An-30—was introduced with production reaching 123 units. On April 30, 1974, another renaming occurred: it became known as “Kyiv Aviation Production Association”.

Between 1976 and 1979 a small batch of five pilot An-72 aircraft were produced before series manufacturing moved to facilities in Kharkiv. Subsequently, Aviant took responsibility for producing the unique heavy-lift cargo plane—the world's largest—the An-124 "Ruslan". From 1979 through to 2004, nineteen An-124s were completed at this site. Concurrently since 1979 production of the rugged transport aircraft An-32 began; by May 2004 approximately 361 units had been built. Between 1985 and 1988 Aviant contributed components for the massive An-225 "Mriya", designed to transport the Buran space shuttle; however only one unit was completed due to cancellation of the space program.

On August 5th, 1992, the enterprise adopted the name “National Enterprise Kyiv Aviation Plant”. It was renamed again on August 27th, 1995 as “Kyiv Aviation Plant Aviant”, before finally assuming its current title “Antonov Serial Production Plant” in 2010.

On March 14th, 2022, Russian military airstrikes inflicted severe damage upon the facility.

Awards

• On September 8, 1970, the facility received the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in recognition of its accomplishments in aviation equipment manufacturing.
• The plant was honored with the international distinction, the Gold Mercury award, on October 15, 1980, acknowledging its significant role in advancing production capabilities and fostering global collaboration.
• In 1995, it earned the Birmingham Torch Award for demonstrating resilience and growth amid challenging socio-economic conditions.

See also

• Kyiv Sviatoshyn Airfield

External links

• ANTONOV Serial Plant / Branch of ANTONOV Company, official webpage on Antonov's website