Antonov Company Antonov   Antonov Design Bureau
(Антонов Ан-178)
Status In development

The An 178 project begun in 2009 as a self-financed venture of Antonov, having resolved to produce a direct successor to the company's previous generation of transport aircraft produced during the Soviet era, including the An-12, An-26 and An-32. It is aimed to be a replacement for aging international types such as the Transall C-160. To this end, the company conducted market research to identify the contemporary requirements of the international aviation market as well as the specific needs of existing clients that determined such an aircraft should have its payload capacity optimised for the carriage of between 13 and 18 tonnes. During 2011, work on the detailed design commenced; company officials decided to base the new transport aircraft on the in-production An-148 and An-158 family.

In comparison to the preceding An-12, the new transport aircraft features two engines in place of four, has reduced maintenance requirements, and a smaller flight crew, all of which will lower ongoing costs to its operators. Antonov has promoted the aircraft as incorporating the latest international air freight standards and its limited reliance upon airport infrastructure while loading and unloading multi-tonne freight payloads, enabling its use from austere air strips and inhospitable terrain such as tundra and deserts. Both civilian and military applications have been foreseen for the type on the international market.