This is the second time the US is buying the M28 for Nepal. The first batch of two skytrucks had arrived in 2019. The M28 aircraft were purchased under the US Foreign Military Financing programme. Photo courtesy: PZL Mielec
The United States has ordered two M28 Block 05 cargo and troop transport aircraft from Poland for Nepal Army.
Lockheed Martin’s Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze (PZL), the manufacturer of the M28 skytruck, said in a statement that it has received an order for two new M28 short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft.
The contracting authority, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, awarded the contract on behalf of the United States government.
Under the $30.3 million contract, Poland’s PZL Mielec will deliver the aircraft to Kathmandu by April 30, 2025. The M28 can carry a crew of two to three plus 12 paratroopers or 18 passengers based on the mission requirements.
The purchase of M28 aircraft is carried out under the US Foreign Military Financing programme.
Along with two M28 aircraft, the contract includes a flight training package, spare parts package, medical equipment, technical support service and the ferrying of two M28 aircraft from the factory in Mielec to Kathmandu.
The aircraft will be configured as ordered—one in the cargo configuration and the other in the casualty evacuation configuration.
The delivery of both M28 aircraft will increase the multi-role transport capability of the Nepal Army, the company said in the statement. As an aircraft capable of taking off and landing from unpaved ground landing sites, the short takeoff M28 is ideal for Nepal’s short, high-altitude runways.
This is the second time the US is buying the M28 for Nepal, after awarding PZL Mielec $19 million in March 2019 to provide the light transport aircraft as part of the US Foreign Military Financing Programme.
The twin-engine skytruck has a semi-monocoque hull with the construction of the floor and the fastening system enabling the installation of passenger seats, landing equipment, sanitary equipment, cargo loads and special equipment operator stands.
“We are excited to welcome another US government contract for delivery of M28 aircraft manufactured by PZL Mielec employees,” PZL Mielec President and General Director Janusz Zakreci said. “The aircraft is perfectly adaptable to harsh climate and diverse weather conditions and can be operated on high altitude, unprepared landing strips at sea level and high-altitude locations where flights are often performed during night-time, low cloud base, rainfall or severe icing.”
The M28 aircraft is operated by the Polish Navy, the United States Air Force, the Vietnamese Air Force, the Venezuelan Army and Indonesia Air Police.
The aircraft is fitted with a robust tricycle and non-retractable landing gear. The nose wheels allow landing and take-off operations on short and unprepared runways during hot or high-altitude conditions.
The design of the M28 is based on the Antonov An-28 twin light prop transport aircraft. The design incorporates a high-wing layout, twin vertical fins and rudders, a larger fuselage and turboprop engines. The airframe is made from an all-metal structure.
The aircraft is installed with an improved Honeywell avionics suite for VFR and IFR day and night and all-weather operations.
The M28 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-65B turboprop engines delivering a total power of 820kW. Driving two five-bladed propellers, the engines provide a maximum speed of 350km/h.
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