Antonov and China Aviation Industry Corp II (AVIC II) are discussing expanding their partnership to include the new An-70 and An-124-300 and a re-engined Y-5B.
AVIC II vice-president Xu Zhanbin says a new memorandum of understanding with Antonov includes studying the feasibility of producing the An-70 in China and An-124-300 for Chinese cargo carriers. He says the companies are also discussing co-operation on the An-3 that builds on previous deals for Chinese production of the An-2.
AVIC II's Shijiazhuang Aircraft manufactures a Chinese version of the An-2 called the Y-5B. Antonov says it proposes to offer Y-5B operators in China an upgrade with AVIC II that would essentially give them an An-3. It centres on replacing the piston engine with a Russian TVD or Ukrainian VK turboprop.
AVIC II's Shaanxi Aircraft is already co-operating with Antonov on the development of a new Y-8 variant called the Y-8F600. The Y-8 is based on the An-12.
Shaanxi could be the third manufacturing site for the new An-70 transport, joining Kiev in the Ukraine and Omsk in Russia. The An-124-300 is a new variant of the An-124 family that could also potentially be produced at Shaanxi.
Source: Flight International
