The government of Venezuela has made decision to procure between ten and twelve Y-8 airlifters. The Y-8 is a Chinese made version of the Antonov An-12 ramp aircraft powered by four turboprop engines. 

Reportedly, Commander of the Bolivarian air force, Major General Oropeka, spoke to the local media about this decision.

Details of the Y-8 deal is yet to emerge, but it seems Caracas chose the Chinese solution over Russian offers. Previously Russia offered Venezuela a number of aircraft in airlifter role, including Il-112, An-74, Il-76 etc.

The Y-8 is a license copy of the Antonov An-12, with the original design having been improved by its developer Antonov design bureau of Ukraine under a series of contracts with its Chinese partners. Improvements include changes in avionics and onboard systems, and replacement of the original Ivchenko AI-20 series engines with either Chinese or Canadian (Pratt&Whitney) analogues.

The An-12 can transport up to 20 tons of cargo or 80 people (though there were cases in which the aircraft carried in excess of 120 people on board. Loitering capability is over 7 hours without aerial refueling. In Russia, production of this type was discontinued a long ago, in the times of the Soviet Union, but the airplane proved reliable and sturdy workhouse, and still operates with the Russian air force, other nations’ armed forces and cargo airlines.

“Negotiations with the Chinese side on the procurement of the airlifters are almost complete. We expect that the deliveries will commence next year”, the General said. With the induction of the Y-8 in service with the Bolivarian air force will improve its strategic airlift capability and make its airlifters fly beyond the boundaries of South America. The Y-8 can even reach Western Europe.

Earlier Venezuela purchased from China 18 K-8 Karakorum jet trainers for US dollar 82 million. These jets can develop a top speed of 800 km per hour and cover 2,200 km on internal fuel. In close air support role the aircraft can carry a 23mm gun pod, as well as rockets, bombs or droppable fuel tanks on five hard points.