Ukraine has delivered the first batch of five upgraded An-32 light transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The delivery, which also includes equipment to develop aircraft repair facilities, follows the $400m contract awarded to Ukrainian company Spectechnoexport by IAF in July 2009 for repairing and modernising 103 An-32 aircraft.

The contract also involves the modernisation of 40 aircraft in Ukraine and the remaining aircraft at the BRD-1 aviation plant in Kanpur, India.

The upgrades include fitting the aircraft with around 25 types of modern equipment to increase flight safety.

The Interfax-Ukraine News Agency has reported that the company will deliver another ten An-32 aircraft by late 2011.