Ukraine’s state-owned defense industrial group, UkrOboronProm, has officially handed over a combat aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 1 December.
UkrOboronProm said in a statement that the Armed Forces of Ukraine received multirole upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets, heavy multirole high-maneuvering all-weather Su-27 fighter aircraft, combat and transport helicopters, L-39 training aircraft, and Spectator unmanned aerial systems.
During the official ceremony was attended by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
“Each unit of new military equipment is a significant contribution to national defense capabilities and to the security of our citizens. Today, Ukrainian pilots receive new and repaired aviation equipment. Among them are fighter planes, training planes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles,” the Head of State noted.
At the same time, he noted that in early November units of the Air Defense of the Land Forces and the anti-aircraft missile troops carried out firing from anti-aircraft missile systems. All these complexes were restored at the enterprises of Ukroboronprom.
“Firing has proved the skills of our soldiers,” Petro Poroshenko said.
The Head of State inspected the transferred equipment and talked with the military. In addition, the President got himself acquainted with the samples of aircraft production by the Antonov State Enterprise, in particular the AN-132-D and AN-77 military transport aircraft.
The President also noted that the Ukrainian airplane AN-77 has an avionics of the world’s leading manufacturers and that the aircraft is significantly closer to NATO standards. “This aircraft should become the basis of Ukraine’s military transport aviation. And not only of Ukraine. Its characteristics allow to dramatically expand the combat capability of airborne assault troops. After all, they will be able to use even an unprepared 600-meter runway,” the President emphasized.
