An type aircraft service center to open in Kazakhstan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Ukrainian state-owned arms trading company Ukrspetsexport will collaborate with Kazakhstan Aviation Industry to create a functioning service center for An aircraft in Astana.

The service center will provide maintenance services for the An-26, An-72, and An-74 aircraft. Interfax-Ukraine reports the agreement was signed during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's visit to Kazakhstan, following the fifth meeting of the Ukrainian-Kazakh intergovernmental commission. The agreement's aim is to improve cooperation between the countries in the aviation market.

When built, the service center will be the first center to service the An type aircraft in Asia. Ukraine will provide technical documents and equipment as part of the agreement.

An type aircraft was developed by Autonov, a state-owned conglomerate founded in Ukraine during the Soviet era. The company specialized in building large craft, and planes that could take flight using unprepared runways.