Boeing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Antonov Company in Farnborough. The plan is to explore opportunities for collaboration on defense projects, the US company explained.
“We’re pleased to continue working with the Antonov Company to support Ukraine development and economic growth,” said Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This agreement demonstrates our ongoing efforts to find more opportunities to work with Ukrainian industry, which was underscored by our signing of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Compact earlier this year.”
“A strong, innovative, and efficient defense industry is key to sustainable economic development and national security, and we are extremely excited to collaborate with Boeing,” said Ievhen Gavrylov, CEO of Antonov Company. “This agreement brings a whole new level of opportunity to implement the latest and most effective solutions – in addition to the possibility of future projects with Boeing in the aerospace and defense industry.”
The two companies will identify possible synergies in training, logistical support and overhaul services for unmanned tactical aerial systems used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which include ScanEagle.
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Another perceived opportunity will be the provision of engineering services by Antonov to Boeing.
Company in decline before Russian invasion of Ukraine
The Antonov Company has gone through a phase of decline since Russia and Ukraine broke off relations following the invasion of Crimea.
The manufacturer had one of its biggest customers in the Russians and the distance between the two countries interrupted projects carried out with great difficulty such as the AN-178 military transport and the An-158 jetliner.
While the regional jet barely reached 50 completed planes, the airlifter was limited to prototypes.
The special cargo transport arm, Antonov Airlines, formed by four-engine An-124 and a single An-225 was one of the main sources of revenue, but the military invasion of Russia in February 2022 ended up destroying the six-engine aircraft and making it difficult its operations.
