KIEV - After a test program was completed in mid-2014, Ukraine has approved production of the Antonov An-70 transport, and will introduce it into service. The An-70 has had a long and sometimes troubled history; the program has been led by Ukraine but mostly financed by Russia. The annexation of Crimea has called into question the ability of the two countries to work together on the program to its completion. The An-70 will compete with Airbus Military's A400M, Lockheed Martin's C-130J Hercules and possibly Embraer's KC-390.
It is powered by four 13,880shp Ivchenko-Progress propfans, and will be the first aircraft into serial production with such a powerplant.