Five Indian Antonov warplanes go missing during upgrade in Ukraine – report. (RT).
Ukraine is reportedly failing India with upgrades to its An-32 transport aircraft. At least five planes have allegedly gone missing in Ukraine. Meanwhile, work on Indian soil has been halted after Ukrainian engineers were pulled out.
The Indian Air Force sent 40 An-32s to Ukraine to be upgraded at the Kiev-based state-owned Antonov plant under a 2009 service contract. But the last five of them have become “untraceable,” an Indian Air Force official told Defense News.
Another 64 An-32 had to be upgraded locally, but Ukrainian engines tasked with the job departed and the supply of spare parts stopped, he added.
"These five aircraft are almost lost as it is difficult to trace them and diplomatic efforts to find their whereabouts have failed," the anonymous official is quoted as saying.
Earlier Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said the last batch of An-32s sent to Ukraine for upgrade had been “stuck” there due to the ongoing crisis, Economic Times reported.
The military news website contacted the Ukrainian embassy, which said Antonov must resolve this issue with the Indian Air Force on its own. The company would not comment on the issue.
India’s defense ministry has denied speculation that its An-32 transport planes have been going missing in Ukraine.
“Media reports about the Indian military aircraft disappearing during the modernization are unfounded. This is confirmed by the Indian Air Force. The last batch of five An-32 aircraft, which were sent to Ukraine for repairs, remains at the factory in Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement. Hmmmm......Have they tried lost and found offices? Read the full story here.
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