Home > >

Antonov, 1946 Ukraine, aeronautical manufacturer information

Name: Antonov
Country: Ukraine Ukraine
Founded: 1946

✏️ Edit manufacturer info

Antonov, also known as Antonov Company, is a Ukrainian manufacturer specializing in aircraft production and services, with a particular focus on large planes and those capable of operating on unprepared runways. The company, which has produced about 22,000 aircraft, has its models, such as those starting with "An-" (Antonov), still in use throughout the former Soviet Union and in many developing countries.

Antonov history

Initially founded as a state-owned entity in Novosibirsk, Russia, Antonov was established in 1946 under the name Soviet Research and Design Bureau No. 153, led by Oleg Antonov. In 1952, the company moved to Kiev, then part of the Soviet Union. By 2015, Antonov transitioned to the control of Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian Defense Industry.

In 2016, as part of a restructuring initiative by Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian Aircraft Corporation was formed to consolidate all aircraft manufacturing enterprises in Ukraine, including Antonov.

Antonov's history traces back to its early days when it focused on turboprop military transport aircraft. The company’s first major achievement was the An-2, a biplane created for agricultural use that first flew in 1947. This aircraft, along with its modifications, had an enduring impact, with hundreds still in use as of the early 2000s. The Antonov bureau then moved to Kiev, where the city’s established aviation infrastructure played a significant role in the company’s expansion.

In the late 1950s, Antonov began mass-producing the An-10 and An-12, which were essential for both military and civilian use. These aircraft, particularly during the Cold War, served various global military and humanitarian efforts, notably in the Vietnam War and the Chernobyl disaster recovery. As the company continued to grow, it established new facilities, including a Flight Testing Base in Hostomel in 1959.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Antonov solidified its reputation as the Soviet Union’s primary designer of military transport aircraft. In 1984, following Oleg Antonov's death, the company was renamed the Research and Design Bureau named after O.K. Antonov. Despite this, the company continued to produce military and civilian aircraft, introducing innovations like the An-22 in 1965, which became the largest turboprop aircraft in the world.

During the late 1980s, Antonov gained international recognition with the introduction of its super-large aircraft. The An-124 "Ruslan," first produced in 1982, became the Soviet Union's strategic airlifter, and the An-225 "Mriya," launched in 1985, set records as the world’s largest and heaviest aircraft. This era marked the company's shift toward commercialization, particularly with the creation of Antonov Airlines in 1989.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Antonov remained state-owned but began expanding into global markets, introducing new aircraft models such as the An-140, An-148, and An-158. Despite challenges, including the loss of contracts with Russia after the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Antonov managed to recover by entering new markets, including the Persian Gulf and India.

In 2009, Antonov absorbed the Aviant aircraft-assembling plant, which allowed it to complete full serial manufacturing processes. However, the company’s production slowed down significantly in the following years, with only a few aircraft, like the An-158, being produced in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Antonov unveiled the An-132, a new model developed in partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The geopolitical situation took a dramatic turn in 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Antonov’s facilities, including its iconic An-225 "Mriya," were severely damaged or destroyed in the early stages of the attack. The company faced internal scrutiny over the lack of preparation for defense at its airfield, leading to the arrest of the former director, Serhiy Bychkov, in 2023 for his role in the loss of the An-225 and the subsequent damages to the company.

Antonov aircrafts

« View manufacturers list