OREANDA-NEWS. On January 22, 2015, handing of the Order of Ministry of Defense of Ukraine about adoption of the AN−70 military STOL transport by Armed Forces of Ukraine took place at ANTONOV Company. In the enclosure to the order the AN−70 is noted as a transport aircraft of Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is intended for aerial delivery, air transportation of troops and tangible assets, provision of maneuvers and troop's activity and decisions of special tasks.

Decision about adoption was taken basing on results of tests on the program of Joint State Tests of the AN−70. The act on those results was approved on June 11, 2014. As Mr. Pakholchenko, leading test pilot of State scientific test centre of Armed Forces of Ukraine, noted: "The AN−70 is easy to be piloted at all difficult flight areas, including short take−off and landing. Optimal ergonomic decisions, applied in the crew cockpit, allow teaching an average pilot flying rather easy. The aircraft forgives pilot lots of things, fixing some of his errors, and differs with high reliability. The AN−70 is the best aircraft I used to pilot!"

Mr. Kiva, President - General Designer of the ANTONOV Company, noted that before final stage of Joint State Tests were works on deep modernization of the AN−70 board equipment and power plant. As a result the AN−70 saved advantages over analogous aircraft, including A 400M European aircraft.

Adoption of the AN−70 allows starting up this aircraft serial production and developing its different modifications.