Ukraine has relocated another of its unique military transport aircraft to Poland as Russian missile and drone strikes on the capital intensify.
The aircraft involved this time is the Antonov AN-70, a rare short take-off and landing (STOL) tactical military transport aircraft produced by the Antonov State Enterprise.
The move comes nearly a year after Ukraine transferred its AN-178-100R prototype to Polish territory for protection and further work.
On Monday, September 15, open-source monitoring outlet Polish Military Radar reported that the AN-70 had entered Polish airspace. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft, bearing the tail number “02 Blue,” crossing the border during daytime hours.
Formally accepted into Ukrainian Armed Forces service in 2015, the AN-70 was the only aircraft of its kind. By early 2021, the airframe remained at the Antonov production facility undergoing modernization, with a focus on replacing Russian-made components with Western—primarily European and U.S.—alternatives.
At the time, Antonov engineers aimed to develop a NATO-compatible version of the AN-70, free of dependency on Russian-supplied parts. This effort gained urgency after the full-scale invasion began in 2022, and the aircraft became a symbol of Ukraine’s attempts to both modernize and decouple its defense sector from Russia.
In addition to the AN-70, Ukraine has relocated other key air assets, including at least one AN-124 heavy lifter, which has transferred to Leipzig, Germany. These actions are part of a broader effort to preserve critical strategic aviation capabilities from ongoing attacks.
The Antonov manufacturing complex, located in the Kyiv area, has been increasingly targeted during Russian air raids, prompting concerns over the safety of high-value platforms and production infrastructure. The relocation of these aircraft suggests a long-term plan to shield Ukraine’s aerospace industry assets from destruction, while continuing to develop and potentially operate them in secure allied territories.
The AN-70 program, initially a joint Ukrainian-Russian venture, had long faced delays and political complications, especially after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Following the rupture of military-technical cooperation with Russia, Antonov began replacing the aircraft’s Russian systems and avionics with Western alternatives, a move that extended development timelines but increased its strategic independence.
Whether the AN-70 will resume test flights or receive further upgrades abroad remains unclear, but its transfer to Poland strongly signals Ukraine’s intent to safeguard remaining strategic airlift capabilities and continue integration with NATO defense standards.