You're reading: Antonov enterprise ready to transfer four An-32 to Iraq by year’s end

Kyiv-based state-run Antonov enterprise is ready to transfer four out of the contracted six An-32 light transport aircraft to Iraq by the end of 2011, according to Chairman of state JSC Antonov enterprise and President and Chief Designer of Antonov state-run enterprise Dmytro Kiva.

The Iraqi side has already signed technical acceptance documents for two aircraft, and two more aircraft are expected to be accepted by the Iraqi customer by the end of the year, he told reporters in Kyiv on Friday.

"We’ve already received payment for the first two planes," he said, noting that the sides have already settled all technical issues under the contract.

According to him, the construction of the remaining two An-32 aircraft for Iraq will start soon.

As reported earlier, a contract worth over $550 million for the supply of the Ukrainian military hardware to Iraq was concluded in 2009 by a state-run subsidiary of Ukrspecexport – the Progress specialized foreign trade firm.

The contract foresees the supply of over 400 pieces of military hardware, including BTR-4, six An-32 light transport aircraft, and aircraft repair services over three to three-and-a-half years.

Among the key Ukrainian contractors are Kharkiv-based Morozov design and engineering bureau, Kharkiv engine design bureau, Kharkiv-based Malyshev plant, and Kyiv-based Antonov enterprise. The supplies of the aircraft were scheduled for 2011.

The first batch of 26 BTR-4 armored personnel carriers, two maintenance vehicles, two BTR crew training simulators was delivered to the Iraqi contractor on April 20, 2011.

According to the Ukrainian side’s information, the vehicles arrived in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr on May 29, 2011.

Under the agreement reached by the sides, the deadline for the delivery of the first batch, which was originally scheduled for the end of 2010, was put off so the new armored personnel vehicles could be tested to make sure they meet military operational requirements.