The Egyptian air force has accepted its first of three Antonov An-74T-200A transports from Ukraine’s Kharkov State Aviation Manufacturing company. All three twinjets are scheduled for delivery before year-end under a $34 million contract that also includes six options. Cairo has an eventual requirement for up to 18 aircraft.
First flown in December 2004, the An-74T-200A differs from Antonov’s baseline -200 by having a reduced flightcrew of two, a “semi-glass” cockpit with two multifunction displays and a new digital communications and navigation suite with traffic collision avoidance system supplied by St Petersburg-based Leninets. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 36.5t.
Deliveries of two An-74T-200Cs to the Libyan air force have been delayed from early 2005 until next year to enable Kharkov to meet its delivery schedule for Egypt.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV/MOSCOW
Source: Flight International