Saudi Arabia to start building An-132 assembly plant next year - Antonov

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans in 2019 to begin construction of an assembly plant for multi-purpose An-132 aircraft and to launch by 2021 their serial assembly.

Serial production of the new multipurpose An-132 aircraft will be organized within the framework of setting up a technopark near the city of Taif, located in the west of Saudi Arabia, according to the state-owned Antonov's press service.

"TAQNIA Aeronautics and Antonov, with the participation of Western experts, are working on a feasibility study for the construction of an aircraft [assembly] plant. The plant's construction is scheduled to start in 2019, the construction period is nine months, while serial assembly of An-132s should be launched in 2021," the report says.

It is noted that the program of scientific and technological development of Taif includes the construction of industrial and university campuses, a residential quarter of 10,000 apartments, and an international airport.

Read alsoUkraine touting indigenous aviation development progress - media"The Technopark will be built in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz Scientific and Technological Center, which is one of the key partners in the An-132 program. The technopark will include an aircraft factory with an airfield, a solar panel manufacturing company, and a solar power station," the report reads.

 As UNIAN reported earlier, Antonov Company, Taqnia Aeronautics, a subsidiary of Saudi Technology Development and Investment Co (TAQNIA) and WAHAJ, an affiliate of SIPCHEM, in late February signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to manufacture the An−132 aircraft.

Read alsoUkrainian-made An-132D transport aircraft showcased at Dubai Air ShowThe Saudi−Ukrainian multi−purpose aircraft is intended in particular for military transportation of armed personnel, and warfare equipment.