OREANDA-NEWS. The ANTONOV Company will present its modern programs at the Farnborough - 2014 exhibition, to be held during 14 - 20 July near London. The work program of the ANTONOV's delegation, headed by Dmytro Kiva, President - General Designer, includes a number of meetings and negotiations, directed to development of interaction with European companies and aircraft operators. Among perspective programs that may be the basis for development of this cooperation is the AN−178 new transport aircraft with cargo capacity of up to 18 tones. This project ANTONOV realizes, basing on researches of world market requirements of ramp military freighters. One of the fundamental tendencies is replacement of four−engined turboprop transport aircraft with by two−engined jet ones. Having close fuel consumption by the hour, twin−jet provides much higher efficiency on a route as compared to a four turboprop−powered transport aircraft owing to almost 40 percent higher cruising speed. On the basis of main tasks to be performed by medium military transports, the AN−178 will be able to perform tasks within logistic support of troops, to carry and airdrop military personnel and cargoes, to transport injured and light equipment, to deliver equipment and engines. Unique feature of the AN−178 is ability to carry all the type of the existing packaged freights (containerized and palletized ones). Besides, as other ANTONOV's aircraft, the AN−178 also has characteristics, so necessary to transport aircraft: ability to be operated from/to any runway, self−regulation, high reliability and combat vitality.

The AN−178 maiden flight is planned to be performed in the beginning of 2015. The market demand for this aircraft is evaluated to 200 transports till year 2032.

In the segment of transports at Farnbotough−2014 ANTONOV will also present the following programs: AN−70 STOL military transport that has already completed state joint tests, further development of famous heavy transport of AN−124−100 Ruslan, a number of new perspective projects.

Much attention will be paid to the program of AN−148/158 regional jet family. This international project has unified efforts of more than 200 companies - participants from 15 countries of the world. Nowadays the market has a number of this family aircraft of different purpose, including for transporting from 68 to 99 passengers, cargo delivery, VIP variants, aircraft for work in emergency situations, maritime patrol aircraft.

ANTONOV is sure that participation in Farnborough−2014 will become the next step of Ukraine to the development of international cooperation in aviation industry.