The Indian Defence Ministry has awarded a contract to upgrade the Air Force’s fleet of AN-32 aircraft to a Ukranian firm, Spetstechnoexport (STE).

Under the total technical life extension programme, the aircraft will be overhauled and re-equipped to add 25–l40 years to their lifespan.

The upgrade is expected to cost about $397m and will be completed between 2009 and 2017.