Antonov An-140

Summary

Description

The Antonov An-140 was conceived by the Ukrainian Antonov ASTC bureau as a turboprop regional airliner intended as a successor to the An-24, designed to offer extended cargo capacity and the ability to operate from unprepared airstrips. The first flight occurred on 17 September 1997.

It is designed to accommodate 52 passengers and has a maximum payload of 6,000 kg (13,228 lb). Its wingspan measures 24.505 m (80 ft 5 in) and its length 22.605 m (74 ft 2 in). The original design features two Motor-Sich AI-30 series 1 turboprop engines, each producing 1,838 kW (2,465 hp), driving six-bladed Aerosila SV-14 propellers, with the option for Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127A turboprops. The An-140 includes Buran weather radar as part of its avionics suite.

Manufacturing of the An-140 took place across multiple sites. The primary production line was at Kharkiv by KHDABP, with production ceasing there in 2005 after 11 aircraft were manufactured. Production also occurred in Samara by Aviakor, producing an identical-in-appearance airplane. Under license, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) produced the aircraft in Iran as the IrAn-140 from 2000 to 2015, utilizing Ukrainian and Iranian components. Discussions also occurred regarding assembly in Kazakhstan through a tripartite agreement involving the Kazakh government, Ukraine, and Russia.

The Antonov An-140 saw operational use in both airline and government service. A total of 33 aircraft were built, including prototypes, as of December 2022; of these, a limited number remain in active service, while a larger number are stored, and four have been lost in accidents. Iran license-built the aircraft as the IrAn-140, with plans to produce maritime patrol and freighter versions. The An-140T variant was intended as a light military transport for the Russian Aerospace Forces to replace aging An-24 and An-26 fleets, featuring a rear ramp for cargo and personnel. This project was abandoned, leading Russia to pursue development of the Ilyushin Il-112 instead.

The base An-140 is not equipped with any armament.

Main Variants:

• An-140T (Tactical airlifter): This is a light military transport version featuring a rear ramp for loading and unloading cargo and personnel.

• An-140TK (convertible cargo-passenger): This variant allows for flexible configurations, accommodating both cargo and passengers.

• An-140 VIP: Configured for comfort, this regional aircraft can carry up to 30 passengers in a luxurious setting, with options for divided zones including exclusive lounges and business/economy class cabins.

• An-140-100: This version differs from the base model with a larger wingspan, and is adaptable for civilian, military, and special-purpose roles such as maritime patrol or medical services.

• HESA IrAn-140: This is a licensed-built version assembled in Iran from complete knock-down kits provided by Antonov, with plans for maritime patrol and freighter variants.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Russia	8

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Russia • Ukraine

Photo of An-140