OREANDA-NEWS. At the International Aviation & Space Salon in Moscow taking place within the period of August 27 - September 1, the ANTONOV Company will present a number of perspective projects, realized jointly with Russian enterprises. One of the most dynamically developing ANTONOV's projects at the sector of regional passenger aircraft is a program of further replenishment of the AN-148 and AN-158 family . At the static display and in the program of demonstrative flights guests of MAKS-2013 will see one of the aircraft of this family - the AN-158 jet that will be handed to Cubana de Aviacion, Cuban customer, after the exhibition. At present, two such aircraft work in this customer's fleet. They have already become familiar with regional routes of the airlines and have started international flights.

Beginning of the AN-158 operation at commercial airlines confirms that in the market there is a whole family of aircraft able to accomplish a variety of tasks. While the AN-158s get used to operation, aircraft of the AN-148 family feel comfortable in the sky. They are being operated in fleets of seven air carriers of three countries. Daily the AN-148 performs 6-8 flights, and have its average monthly flight time of more then 300 hours.

To meet the customers' requirements ANTONOV is designing a number of new aircraft. One of them is the 89-seat AN-148-200. The AN-148-100EM convertible ambulance variant was developed and certified by EMERCOM's order. The AN-148-100EA VIP 3-Cabin, accommodating 39 passengers, is being operated as a part of the Rossiya Special Flight Unit of the directorate of the presidential administration. The AN-148-300 high comfortable aircraft that will be able to carry passengers over a distance of up to 7000 km is being also developed. Basing on this aircraft the ANTONOV is developing a perspective AN-148-300МP that is intended for maritime patrol and resistance.

The AN-178 new transport, designing of which is being completed at the enterprise, will continue the AN-148/158 line. In accordance with the world market's tendencies the AN-178 will be in demand for both: military and civil tasks.

More than 120 Russian enterprises were involved in the AN-148/158 program. Manufacture of aircraft of the family provides Russian Federation and Ukraine with approximately 70000 workplaces. Having a wide experience in cooperation of creation of aircraft engineering and its operation, the ANTONOV Company jointly with its partners enter the market with the product that meets a wide spectrum of requirements of operators from different regions of Russia.

Jointly with Motor Sich SC the ANTONOV Company will present new modification of the world-known AN-2 biplane at MAKS-2013. The main difference between the AN-2-100 and its predecessor is in a power plant with MC-14 turboprop engine, made and produced by Motor Sich SC (Ukraine). One of the advantages of this replacement is substitution of the aviation gasoline for aviation kerosene. Thus, the aircraft profitability rises significantly.

The AN-2-100 production will be realized by reequipment of the AN-2 being in operation. It will let the AN-2 operators continue working with this aircraft.

Taking into account unique performance and all-airfield operation of the AN-2, modernization and reconstruction of the airworthiness these aircraft fleet becomes the most important task for development of north and east regions of Russian Federation. There are 1580 such aircraft in Russia today, only 322 of which having airworthiness. The AN-2 is also the main aircraft of Russian agricultural aviation.

The AN-70 military transport STOL aircraft is also among joint Ukrainian-Russian projects. In August the aircraft finished preliminary tests and now is ready to be presented to Ukrainian and Russian customers to carry out final joint state testing, program of which is intended for 82 flights.

In the course of MAKS-2013 a number of meetings and negotiations are planned. They are directed on development of cooperation between ANTONOV and Russian partners and operators of aircraft on joint programs that are mentioned above and other perspective ones.