Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and Antonov today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide Antonov's AN-132 aircraft production program with a new version of the PW150A turboprop engine. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp..

The AN-132 is part of a new generation of light, multi-purpose aircraft. The AN-132 is to be developed by Antonov with participation from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

"We are delighted to be working with Antonov on its AN-132 production program after having provided Antonov with PW150A engines for the AN-132D DEMO aircraft last fall," said John Saabas, President, P&WC. "The PW150 delivers unequalled value to multi-purpose aircraft such as the AN-132, offering exceptional payload capacity, fuel efficiency, environmental performance and low-cost maintenance.

The AN-132 - intended for short- and medium-haul routes - will have varied use, from troop transport to cargo and can be outfitted with a variety of cabin configurations. The aircraft will have a maximum cruising speed of 500 kilometers per hour and a maximum cruising altitude of 9,000 meters with a maximum payload of 9.2 tonnes.

The PW100/150 engine family offers the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the regional turboprop market and incorporates the latest, proven advanced technologies. Ranging in power from 1,800 shp to more than 5,000 shp, PW100 engines are available in 38 models, offering unsurpassed flexibility and capability for a variety of applications. PW100 engines power aircraft in service with 500+ operators in 130+ countries. More than 8,000 PW100/150 engines have been produced since the family entered service in 1984, accumulating more than 165 million flying hours. PW100 engines have demonstrated their versatility in powering aircraft applications spanning regional airlines, coastal surveillance, firefighting and cargo transport.