Ukraine to upgrade its AN-26 planes to use with U.S.-made T-11 parachute system

Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has awarded the Antonov company a contract to upgrade the AN-26 military transport plane for use with U.S.-made T-11 Advanced Tactical Parachute System.

Antonov has received a contract valued at as much as UAH 2,79 million ($90 thousand) to modify one AN-26 military transport plane for the T-11 Advanced Tactical Parachute System (ATPS).

Location of performance is Kyiv, with a November 1, 2020, performance completion date.

The T-11 is the newest personnel parachute system adopted by the United States armed forces and the Canadian Army.

It is suitable for a wide range of Soldier sizes, from the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male Soldier. It enables a stable, safe rate of descent that reduces landing injuries and permits the parachutist to carry a heavier load. The T-11 consists of three components: a completely redesigned main, T-11R reserve parachute and the T-11 harness system.

The main canopy is a highly modified version of a cross-cruciform platform, with a 14 percent increase in inflated diameter and a 28 percent increase in surface area compared with its predecessor, the T-10D assembly. The T-11R reserve canopy has an aeroconical design that promotes fast opening of the reserve system during low-speed malfunctions. It also features an omni-directional, center-pull deployment system. The T-11 harness, because of higher placement of the D-rings, is designed to displace opening shock forces on the axis of the jumper’s body.

In November 2019, Ukraine acquired 260 T-11 parachute systems manufactured by Airborne Systems North America. The deal amounted to $4.2 million. Earlier, several more T-11 parachute systems were purchased for testing.