Defense Ministry, Antovov to sign contract on three An-178 by year-end

A contract between State Enterprise Antonov and Ukraine's Defense Ministry on the construction of three An-178 aircraft for the armed forces will be signed by the end of this year.

This was announced by General Director of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Husyev during his visit to the enterprise, Ukroboronprom's press service said on December 21.

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"Today I can promise: a contract for three An-178 aircraft will be signed by the end of this year. While visiting the plant's production premises, we managed to negotiate with Ukreximbank and get assurances that this will happen in 2020. We will do everything possible and, if necessary, impossible for this. What is more, this issue is under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's special control," the press service quoted Husyev as saying.

Construction of An-178 for Ukraine's Army

• Earlier, it was Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Urusky who announced a contract on three new An-178 aircraft to be signed by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and Antonov.
• "For the first time in 29 years, we have received a government order for the construction of new locally built aircraft. Over Ukraine's independence, we have never ordered new planes," he said.