NEW DELHI, Mar 30: Last batch of five Indian Air Force cargo planes, sent for refit and upgrade, have reportedly gone missing in the trouble-torn Ukraine, Russian media said today.
The IAF sent 40 AN-332 aircraft to Ukraine for upgrade at Kiev-based Antonov plant, out of which five were ‘untraceable’, reports said quoting unnamed sources.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has earlier this month confirmed that the last batch of AN-32 aircraft had been stuck in Ukraine due to the ongoing crisis.
The Minister said that officials were working on getting the aircraft back from the crisis-torn nation and that, he is hopeful that things would be sorted out soon.
The Soviet-origin AN 32 aircraft, the transport workhorse of the Air Force, are vital to maintaining and supplying troops located in the Eastern and Northern borders.
The contract to upgrade fleet of An-32, worth 400 million dollars, was signed in 2009 under which the aircraft’s life expectancy was to be increased from 25 to 40 years, with improved avionics.
At least 30 of these have been returned. Another 65 of the aircraft were to be upgraded with Ukrainian help at an Indian facility in Kanpur. (UNI)
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