Platform profile · India · Twin-turboprop tactical transport aircraft · Indian Air Force
The An-32 remains in service while its replacement moved to the tender stage on 12 August 2026, when the MoD issued an RFP to Indian companies for 60 multirole transport aircraft valued at about Rs 1 lakh crore.
On 22 April 2026, An-32 aircraft took part in day-and-night operations from the Sultanpur emergency landing facility on the Purvanchal Expressway. Less than a month earlier, the Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for a Medium Transport Aircraft programme intended to replace the An-32 and Il-76 fleets. Two An-32s had also demonstrated island access in March 2025 with an air-landed operation at Agatti and combat-free-fall activity at Kavaratti. Antonov records that the type was developed to an Indian Air Force requirement, with a 1980 order covering 118 aircraft and operation from airfields up to 4,500 metres. The 2016 loss of K-2743 with 29 people aboard remained unresolved until imagery of possible debris was obtained at 3,400 metres depth in January 2024. The An-32 remains important for rugged tactical and high-altitude lift, making a controlled transition to its successor essential for India's remote and island logistics.
Updated 5 days ago Updated 12 Aug 2026
Verified figures
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Design origin | Developed from the An-26 to an Indian Air Force requirement ↗ |
| High-altitude airfield capability | Up to 4,500 m above sea level ↗ |
| Length | 23.68 m ↗ |
| Height | 8.75 m ↗ |
| Wingspan | 29.20 m ↗ |
| Wing area | 74.98 sq m ↗ |
| Cruise speed | 460 km/h ↗ |
| Operational range | 800 km ↗ |
| Operational ceiling | 8,000 m ↗ |
| Production | 358 aircraft manufactured at Kyiv from 1982 to 1996 ↗ |
Spec sources: antonov.com ↗
Changelog
The Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Proposal to Indian companies for 60 multirole transport aircraft in the 18-30 tonne class, valued at about Rs 1 lakh crore, to replace the An-32 fleet, with bidders required to partner a foreign OEM and set up final assembly in India.
An-32 aircraft participated in day-and-night flying from the Sultanpur emergency landing facility on the Purvanchal Expressway during its operational activation.
The Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for a Medium Transport Aircraft programme to replace the IAF's An-32 and Il-76 fleets as part of approvals worth about Rs 2.38 lakh crore.
Two Southern Air Command An-32s completed an air-landed operation at Agatti on 5 March and a combat-free-fall operation at Kavaratti on 6 March.
An-32 and C-130J aircraft ferried relief materials and personnel for the IAF's response to the Wayanad landslide in Kerala.
NIOT deep-sea imagery obtained at 3,400 m depth about 310 km off Chennai was assessed as possible debris from missing IAF An-32 K-2743.
An An-32 carrying 13 people disappeared after departing Jorhat for Mechuka; wreckage was later located and all aboard were lost.
IAF An-32 K-2743 disappeared over the Bay of Bengal with 29 people aboard while flying from Chennai to Port Blair.
By 13 May during Nepal earthquake relief, An-32s had flown 12 sorties, carried 6.00 tonnes and evacuated 135 people.
The Soviet Council of Ministers ordered development and manufacture of the An-32 for export to the Indian Air Force, covering 118 aircraft.
The An-32 made its maiden flight with Volodymyr Tkachenko as captain of the test crew.
1 tagged story
The Defence Ministry's RFP for 60 multirole transport aircraft, worth around Rs 1 lakh crore, opens a Make-in-India race between Tata-Lockheed, Mahindra-Embraer and a revived HAL-Russia tie-up to replace the IAF's ageing AN-32 fleet.
