OREANDA-NEWS. Delegation of ANTONOV ASTC is taking part in DUBAI Air Show’2007 international exhibition being held in Dubai (UAE) from 11th to 15th of November 2007, the company's press service reports. ANTONOV is presenting to the exhibition’s visitors a number of its modern programs to become a basis for strengthening the existing business relations and establishing new ones with operators of the countries of the Near East and Nothern Africa.

One of the main programs represented by ANTONOV at the exhibition is the further development of the AN-74 multi-purpose family. These airplanes have a reputation of undemanding and effective aircraft which work reliably under various weather and climate conditions. Today, they successfully perform tasks of both military aircraft and civil airliners in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova, Laos, Lithania, Latvia, Iran, Vietnam, and United Arab Emirates.

In 2006, a new version of AN-74, the AN-74T-200A, was delivered to the Egyptian customer. From the AN-74 previous versions, the difference is the upgraded navigation and radio communication equipment.

 In October 2007, capabilities of the AN-74 were highly appreciated by Qatar Transport Committee delegation headed by Ahmad Ebrahim R Al-Malki, Committee Staff Head, which visited ANTONOV ASTC.

Special emphasis at DUBAI Air Show is put on the new versions of the AN-74 airplane which has the "THALES" equipment.

The cooperation of ANTONOV and THALES on the AN-74 program allows to raise considerably the efficiency of the various versions of the airplane including AN-74 intended for maritime patrol while performing:

- water surveillance ;
- search-and-rescue operations;
- electronic intelligence;
- joint littoral operations;
- monitoring of environment pollution.

Company's partners within the program are sure that new versions of AN-74 ready to perform various tasks will get interested many aircraft operators of the Near East and Nothern Africa and will work successfully in these regions.