India to Procure Simulator for Upgraded An-32 Aircraft

India intends to procure one full mission simulator for the upgraded AN-32 aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defense, “the full mission simulator is intended to be used for flying and mission training of pilots, navigator and flight engineers on all roles of the upgraded An-32 RE aircraft.”

IAF had signed a contract with Ukraine’s Spets Techno Export for upgrading the An-32 RE aircraft. The Ministry of Defense says, “The design and development has been carried out by Antonov Design Bureau and series production of the aircraft is being executed by IAF.” The simulator for medium transport aircraft is likely to be delivered by years 2018.

In 2007, India had planned to replace An-32 aircraft with a jointly developed Indo-Russian medium transport aircraft. For this, both the countries had signed an inter-governmental agreement to develop a 20-ton medium transport aircraft. The two countries had set up a joint venture with investment of USD 300 million but differences emerged between the two countries due to the unavailability of defined specification of engine at preliminary stage . Meanwhile, India and Ukraine have decided to sign a USD 398 million deal to upgrade 101 An-32 aircraft. A total of 50 such aircraft were upgraded to increase their operational life from 25 to 40 years.

On July 22, an upgraded An-32 aircraft went missing in the Bay of Bengal. Even after a month, Indian defense forces have been unable to find any debris.

India is at different stages of acquiring full mission simulators for Su-30 and Mirage 2000 Upgraded Aircraft as well.