The An-132 is a joint-development effort between Antonov of Ukraine and Taqnia Aeronautics and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) of Saudi Arabia. At its core, the aircraft is a majorly upgraded version of the Antonov An-32 high-winged, twin-engined light transport which first flew in 1976. Currently under development, the An-132 has gone on to record its own first-flight in 2017. The Royal Saudi Air Force has six of these aircraft currently on order and these are set to be assembled locally as the "An-132D". As many as eighty An0132 aircraft are envisioned by the oil-producing powerhouse.
The An-132 benefits from Antonov's long and successful foray into the light fixed-wing transport aircraft market. It borrows the form and function of the preceding An-32 design but truly only carries over the rear-based loading ramp - all other components of the aircraft are new. The An-132 relies on a high-winged, twin-engine configuration allowing for strong inherent lift principles and excellent ground clearance of the spinning propeller blades. The wings are mounted atop the tubular fuselage just ahead of midships. The flight deck, with its large windows, offers good vision out-of-the-cockpit and over the nose. The tail unit is raised to allow for clearance to the loading ramp and is capped by a single vertical stabilizer and low-set horizontal stabilizers. The undercarriage is of a tricycle arrangement and fully retractable.
Dimensions included a length of 80.5 feet, a wingspan of 95.9 feet and a height of 28.9 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is 62,832lb.
Internally there is space for up to 20,300lb of paletted cargo or up to 75 combat-ready troops. Up to 27 medical litters can be carried for the MEDEVAC role. The crew numbers two pilots and a loadmaster. The cockpit sports a Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0 series avionics fit. Unlike previous Antonov aircraft iterations, the An-132 is a truly Western-centric offering.
Power for the aircraft is from 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 turboprop engines. These output 5,071 horsepower each and drive Dowty R408 six-bladed propeller units. Performance includes a cruising speed of 345 miles per hour, a range out to 2,735 miles and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet. The aircraft is more powerful and features greater payload capability than the preceding An-32 marks. Improved "hot and high" performance is a staple of the design.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
December 2016 - On March 31st, 2017 an An-132D prototype was rolled out for public consumption. A first-flight is planned for 2017 with deliveries tentatively scheduled for 2018. Saudi Arabia represents the launch customer.
March 2017 - On march 31st 2017, a prototype An-132D aircraft took to the skies for the first time. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop engines, the flight originated from the Antonov location in Kiev, Ukraine. A second aircraft is planned as truer pre-series representation.
June 2017 - The Antonov An-132 was showcased at the 2017 Paris Air Show.
November 2017 - At Dubai Air Show 2017, Taqnia Aeronautics announced a partnership with other Saudi companies to produce the An-132 locally as well as the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and the Chinese CH-5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This is one move in the broaden "Vision 2030" initiative by Saudi Arabia to move the economy away from its reliance on oil. The Royal Saudi Air Force is committed to purchasing thirty An-132 aircraft.
April 2019 - Announced April 29th, 2019, Ukraine has suspended its joint partnership with the Saudi Kingdom to bring the new An-132 to market. Instead, it will move forward with a new partner in the venture, the primary reason believed to be Saudi Arabia's growing friendship with Ukrainian adversary Russia.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
