The Antonov design bureau has signed a preliminary agreement with the Ulan Ude Aviation Production Association (APO) factory in the Russian autonomous Republic of Buryatia to develop a family of regional jets. Designated the An-148, the new aircraft is principally aimed at the CIS market.
The APO factory produces the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft and the Mil Mi-17 helicopter. The An-148 would be its first commercial aircraft.
Ukrainian design bureau Antonov, in partnership with Beriev, designed Russia's first regional jet, the Yakovlev Yak-40, in the 1960s. The Kiev-based design bureau has led the Soviet/CIS regional turboprop market for over 40 years.
The An-148 programme will encompass a family of aircraft seating between 40 and 100 passengers, beginning with a 70-seater which is expected to fly in 2004. An executive version with a range of up to 6,500km (3,500nm) is also planned.
Source: Flight International
