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Ukraine's aerospace industry is shaking off the legacy of the Soviet era with new products, developed since independence, coming onto the market
Ukraine's aerospace industry is often overshadowed by Russia's huge military-industrial complex, but its contribution to the world history of aviation and space is enormous. Some 25,000 aircraft and 400 spacecraft have been manufactured there, including the world's largest transport, the Antonov An-225 Mriya.
The Ukrainian industry has survived the break-up of the Soviet Union and a deep crisis in the 1990s. It is now well on the way to recovery as new products, developed after the country's independence, come to the market. They will be showcased at the forthcoming Aviasvit air show in Kiev. First held in 1999, Aviasvit aims to send a message to the more than 60 countries where Ukrainian-made aircraft and engines are operated that the country is back as a major player in world aerospace.
The show has been popular with visitors from Muslim countries. Iran has ordered 12 Antonov An-74 transports and launched a project to locally assemble 100 An-140 regional turboprops. Libya has taken delivery of two An-124 Ruslans and four An-32 tactical transports. Last year Air Libya ordered five An-140s, and the United Arab Emirates acquired one Ruslan. This year Egypt, Libya and Sudan have ordered a total of 10 An-74TK200/300s.
The Ukrainian aerospace industry structure is broadly similar to Russia's. One difference is that most enterprises are still state-owned, including the three flagships: the Antonov design house and aircraft manufacturing plants in Kiev (Aviant) and Kharkov (KSAMC).
The industry is export-oriented because local customers are short of funds. At first, the Ukrainians tried their luck in Europe, offering NATO members the An-7X, a Westernised An-70 airlifter. Hopes were high, with Antonov general designer Piotr Balabuev forecasting orders for more than 300 airliners. But then Airbus won the competition with its A400M, a "paper" aircraft with performance broadly similar to the already-flying An-70. The final blow to Antonov's pride came when the UK chose the Boeing C-17 after a tender in which a Rolls-Royce-powered An-124 came first in the technical assessment. Unhappy with both decisions, Ukraine blamed politics and turned to the East.
Export policy
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