Antonov AN-32

Five personnel of the Indian Air Force (IAF), including two officers, were killed on 13 June 2026 when an Antonov AN-32 crashed during landing at Jorhat. One other person on board was rescued and is undergoing treatment.

• This is the third major AN-32 crash in the last decade.

About Antonov AN-32

• The AN-32 is a twin-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft.
• India inducted the aircraft into the IAF in 1984, purchasing it from the former Soviet Union.
• It has served as a key transport workhorse of the IAF for decades.

Key Specifications

• Maximum payload capacity: 6.7 tonnes of cargo or 50 passengers.
• Maximum take-off weight: 27 tonnes.
• Maximum speed: 530 km/h.
• Designed for small- to medium-range transport missions.
• Capable of operating from:
  • Remote airfields
  • High-altitude regions
  • Locations with minimal ground infrastructure

Operational Role

• Transportation of troops and military supplies.
• Logistics support in difficult terrain.
• Rapid mobilisation during conflicts and emergencies.
• Limited tactical bombing capability.
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Modernisation Programme

• Following an AN-32 crash in 2009, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov.
• The programme aimed to upgrade most of the IAF’s 105 AN-32 aircraft through:
  • Airframe overhaul
  • Engine modernisation
  • Avionics and system upgrades

Source: IE