INDIAN FIGHTER PLANE An-32

INDIAN FIGHTER PLANE

An-32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An-32 taking off

Antonov An-32  Sutlej

Known as the Sutlej in the IAF, the An-32 is the workhorse of the transport fleet traveling to far off bases such as Leh, to deliver much-needed supplies to the Army outposts in the area. An estimated 110 aircraft are in service with the IAF. Deliveries to the IAF began in July 1984.

Number Procured: 110

Units Equipped:

........................No.12 Squadron "Yaks" , Agra

........................No.25 Squadron "Himalayan Eagles" ("B" Flight Only), Chandigarh

........................No.33 Squadron "Caribous" , Sulur

........................No.43 Squadron "Ibex" , Jorhat

........................No.48 Squadron "Camels" , Chandigarh

........................No.49 Squadron "Paraspears" , Jorhat

........................Paratroopers Training School, Agra

........................Transport Training Wing, Yelhanka

  Design and development

The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then India leader Indira Gandhi. The An-32 is designed to withstand adverse weather conditions better than the standard An-26. The high placement of the engine nacelles above the wing allowed for larger diameter propeller, which are driven by 5100 hp rated AI-20 turboprop engines, almost twice the power of the An-26's AI-24 powerplants. The An-32 therefore enjoys excellent take-off characteristics under tropical and mountainous (high-altitude) conditions, where hot or thin air hampers the powerplants tractive effort. The price for a newly built An-32 was quoted as being 6-9 million dollars in 2000.

 

Specifications (An-32)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 42 paratroopers/50 passengers/24 Casualties on stretcher with 3 medical personnel
• Length: 23.78 m (78 ft 0¾ in)
• Wingspan: 29.20 m (95 ft 9½ in)
• Height: 8.75m (28 ft 8½ in)
• Wing area: 75 m² (807 ft²)
• Empty weight: 16,800 kg (37,038 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 27,000 kg (59,400 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× ZMKB Progress AI-20DM turboprop, 3,812 kW (5,112 ehp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 530 km/h (286 knots, 329 mph)
• Cruise speed: 470 km/h (254 knots, 292 mph) (econ cruise)
• Range: 2,500 km (1,350 nmi, 1,553 mi)
• Service ceiling: 9,500 m (31,165 ft) 
  
  

Major Accidents

• On June 10, 2009, an Indian Air Force, An-32 transport plane carrying 13 people crashed shortly after it took off from Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh, a state bordering China. All the 13 people on board were reported to have been killed. Soon after the crash, India inked $ 400 million deal for AN-32 fleet upgrade with Ukraine. This upgrade as reported will extend the life of these transport planes by nearly 15 years.