Antonov State Enterprise (Kyiv) will help Saudi Arabia in engineering and organizing production of Saudi analog of multipurpose An-32 aircraft – An-132 with the carrying capacity of 9.2 tonnes, the press service of the enterprise told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

The press service said that the partnership agreement was signed by Antonov and Taqnia Aeronautics (Saudi Arabia) in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The document was signed in the presence of Chairman of Taqnia Aeronautics and President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Saud and President of Antonov State Enterprise Dmytro Kiva.

Under the agreement Ukraine will transfer An-32 production technologies to Saudi Arabia and train specialists. KACST, Taqnia Aeronautics and Antonov will improve the aircraft, increase its disposable load, flying range and take-off parameters of the transport aircraft. The crew cockpit will be equipped with U.S. navigation devices and other elements that will improve its parameters. Saudi Arabia will be the owner of intellectual property rights and design schemes for new An-132.

The press service said that Ukrainian multipurpose An-32 with a carrying capacity of up to 7.5 tonnes was selected by Saudi Arabia after the country analyzed the international light and civil aircraft market. The aircraft will be used for military and civilian operations.

Antonov expressed confidence that the new joint project would allow the parties to open new perspectives for cooperation in the aerospace area.