41 AN-32 Aircraft, Workhorses Of The IAF Transport Fleet, All Set For Upgrade

The Defence Ministry has announced that 41 AN-32 transport aircraft are to be upgraded with advanced avionics, navigation and communication equipment and the process to do so should be over by 2024-25, reports Times of India.

Announcing the development, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said "Forty-one aircraft in the AN-32 fleet of IAF require upgradation in advanced avionics, navigation and communication equipment. The upgradation programme of AN-32 is under progress, which is planned to be completed by 2024-25."

He also said, "All AN-32 aircraft presently have useful residual life and are fully air worthy,” calling the AN-32 aircraft as the workhorse of the IAF transport fleet used extensively to sustain troops in far flung areas of the country.

The AN-31 aircraft were in news earlier after an AN-32 aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh leading to the deaths of 13 Air Force personnel. Questions regarding the aircraft’s safety and serviceability were raised following the incident.