Antonov An-178

An-178
Role Military transport aircraft
National origin Ukraine
Design group Antonov
Built by Antonov Serial Production Plant[1]
First flight 7 May 2015
Status In production
Number built 1 (2015)
Program cost US$ 150-200 million
Unit cost
US$ 40-70 million[2]
Developed from Antonov An-158

The Antonov An-178 (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-178) is a short-range medium-airlift military transport aircraft designed by the Ukrainian Antonov company and based on the Antonov An-158 (An-148-200). It was announced on 5 February 2010, rolled out on 16 April 2015 and the first flight was on 7 May 2015.[2][3][4]

The An-178 is proposed to replace outdated aircraft like the Antonov An-12, Antonov An-26 and Antonov An-32.[5] The aircraft will have avionics suite similar to the An-148, and will use Progress D-436-148FM engines.[6]

The An-178 is a potential competitor for the Alenia C-27J Spartan from Italy, EADS CASA C-295 from Spain, Lockheed Martin C-130J from the United States, Embraer KC-390 from Brazil and the Ilyushin Il-214 from the Russian Federation.[7] The company plans to build more than 200 of the aircraft.[8]

On 18 December 2015, Antonov and Тaqnia Aeronautics signed a Memorandum to deliver 30 An−178s to the Royal Saudi Air Force. Taqnia's President, Ali Mohammed Al−Ghamdi, noted that the An-178 had been selected because "its price and low operational costs are important advantages in comparison with other airplanes of this class".[9][10]

Design and development

Antonov An-178 rollout
The Antonov An-178 prototype in flight

An-178 is a high-wing transport aircraft with moderately swept wing, winglets and a T-tail. The airframe is made of aluminium alloys and composite materials. The fuselage is semi-monocoque with a circular cross-section. The retractable landing gear consists of two main wheel bogies and a single nose wheel. The flight control system is dual duplex fly-by-wire system, consisting of two parts: FCS-A and FCS-B, each of which is responsible for two control channels. The flight control surfaces include ailerons near the wing tips, four control spoilers, six lift-dump/speed-brake spoilers, rudder and elevators, with an emergency mechanical cable back-up system. The powerplant consists of two Progress D-436-148FM turbofan engines, mounted on pylons under the wings and an auxiliary power unit.[6] It can shift 18 tonnes over 1,000 km, or 10 tonnes over 4,000 km.[11]

The wing outer panels (including winglets), front fuselage with cockpit and nose wheel leg come from the An-158. The cargo hold is slightly enlarged, and there is an extra pair of main-wheels on each side.[12] The aircraft made its Western debut at the 2015 Paris Air Show.

Operators

Orders

Specifications

General characteristics

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ":Завершено стапельне складання фюзеляжу першого екземпляру нового транспортного літака Ан−178 (Ukraine)" [Fuselage jig assembly of the first AN−178 transport is completed]. Antonov. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 "В Киеве презентовали новый самолет АН-178" [New An-178 aircraft was demonstrated in Kyiv] (in Ukrainian). companion.ua. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  3. Reed Business Information Limited. "An-178 transport makes 1h debut flight". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  4. "Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov releases video about its new An-178".
  5. "Украина готовит новый транспортный самолет Ан-178 (фото)" [Ukraine is preparing a new transport aircraft An-178 (photo)] (in Ukrainian). news.bigmir.net. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 ":Новости авиационного двигателестроения Украины. Sentence:транспортный самолет Ан-178 будет обеспечен модифицированными авиадвигателями Д-436-148ФМ" [News aviation engine Ukraine: transport aircraft An-178 will provide modified aircraft engines D-436-148FM] (in Russian). topwar.ru.
  7. "ГП "Антонов" готово начать наземные испытания Ан-178" [SE "Antonov" is ready to begin ground testing AN-178] (in Russian). vpk.name. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  8. ""Антонов" планує збудувати більше 200 літаків АН-178" ["Antonov" plans to build more than 200 AN-178] (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  9. "Antonov and Тaqnia Aeronautics signed a Memorandum on delivery of 30 AN−178s to Royal Saudi Air Force". Antonov. 18 December 2015.
  10. "Saudi Arabia has purchased 30 Ukrainian aircraft which are likely to be named after an infamous Nazi collaborator". Sputnik International. 18 December 2015.
  11. Dalløkken, Per Erlien (17 April 2015). "De lagde verdens største transportfly. Midt i konflikten med Russland er en ny prototyp klar" [New prototype ready]. Teknisk Ukeblad. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  12. "Latest Antonov Cargo Jet On Show". Aviation Week. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  13. "Photo Gallery: Editors' Briefing: The Fortnight In Aerospace And Defense - Aviation Week". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  14. "Silk Way Airlines signs a firm order for ten Antonov An-178 freighters after the successful first flight". World Airline News. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  15. "Antonovs for Silk Way". Airliner World (July 2015): 8.
  16. "Antonov and Taqnia Aeronatiques signed a Memorandum on delivery of 30 AN−178s to Royal Saudi Air Force". antonov.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  17. ""World Air Forces 2016 pg. 21". Flightglobal Insight. 2015.". 4 January 2016.
  18. "A Chinese Company Bets on an Ukrainian Cargo Plane". Popular Science. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

External links

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