Peru’s $64m An-74 purchase unravels after Antonov says aircraft never existed
February 9, 2026
A $63.9 million attempt by Peru to acquire a Russian-built transport aircraft collapsed after Ukraine intervened to reveal that the jet in question did not exist.
Officials in Kyiv tipped off Peruvian authorities that a UAE-based Russian front company had submitted fraudulent documentation to sell the Peruvian National Police a non-existent Antonov An-74, exposing one of the most outrageous procurement scams seen in Latin American defence aviation.
The deal, approved in October 2025, would have seen Peru purchase the aircraft from Aero Express FZE, a company later found to have no authorisation from Antonov, the sole rights holder and manufacturer of the An-74.
The transaction was ultimately voided following a joint investigation by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Antonov, which confirmed that the paperwork underpinning the bid was either falsified or entirely fabricated.
How a Russian front company was caught selling a fake An-74 to Peru
The incident of Peru moving forward to purchase a phantom An-74 was reported by Peru’s Pucara Defense and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.
This was the joint effort of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Antonov State Enterprise that exposed the scam. They confirmed to Peru that the paperwork was either nonexistent or fraudulent.
The value of the deal was around $63.9 million for the non-existent aircraft. In October 2025, Peru approved the UAE-based Russian company Aero Express FZE to supply the aircraft.
Pucara Defense reported that Peru’s Interior Ministry has declared the purchase process of the An-74 “null and void, after verifying that the winning company submitted false documentation and misleading information to prove its ability to supply the aircraft.”
Resonancia en los medios de Perú: el Ministerio de Interior anuló la licitación de $63 millones para la compra de un Antonov An-74.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) February 5, 2026
Gracias al trabajo coordinado entre @MFA_Ukraine y @AntonovCompany se desenmascaró a una empresa fachada de los EAU, afiliada a la Federación Rusa.…
This was after “subsequent investigations revealed that the company is not an authorized manufacturer of the Antonov An-74” and that it doesn’t have official permits from Ukraine’s Antonov.
Peru’s bidding process failed to spot fake An-74
Antonov is a Ukrainian aerospace company and the only company with the right to build the aircraft.
Antonov has also not produced a new An-74 in more than a decade, an important detail seemingly lost on Peru when Aero Express FZE was announced as the successful bidder.
Purcara Defense noted this “complicated” the delivery of the aircraft in accordance with the “technical specifications of the bidding process.”
Peruvian experts in government have criticised the country’s “lack of due diligence” and not picking up “serious administrative flaws.” They pointed out ignoring clear signs of falsified documents and the absence of authorisations from the aircraft’s manufacturer.
Furthermore, it was found that the An-74 didn’t meet the Peruvian Police’s requirements, such as operating at high altitudes.
Peru cancela contrato de US$ 63 milhões após descoberta de fraude envolvendo falso An-74 https://t.co/DYgoiAug6c pic.twitter.com/XQbisAExJ0
— Cavok Aviation News (@cavokbr) February 7, 2026
While different, the bureaucratic failing is reminiscent of Bangladesh’s decision to purchase a pair of Russian Mi-171A2 ‘Hip’ helicopters in 2021, only to find they couldn’t receive them due to the 2017 US CAASTA sanctions.
As of early 2026, there doesn’t appear to be any reporting that Bangladesh has yet found a solution.
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Peru’s efforts to modernise its air force
Peru is looking to purchase a smaller tactical airlifter and was considering the Antonov An-74 and the Spanish C-27J Spartan. Peru is now expected to purchase the C-27J for its police.
The type has already been in Peruvian Air Force service since 2015. Four units have been delivered, with another eight examples on order.
In 2025, major news for the Peruvian Air Force was that it was planning to place an order for 24 Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets to replace its ageing Mirage 2000s and MiG-29s.
However, the government subsequently collapsed, and the Peruvian military has been reported by Peru’s Espreso news outlet as abandoning the Gripen in favour of the F-16V Fighting Falcon. The official announcement is expected after the April 2026 election.
Speaking of the An-74 debacle, Brazil’s Cavok noted it represents a recurring problem faced by countries wanting to modernise their air fleets amidst an unstable geopolitical environment.
Cavok points out that the combination of sanctions, industrial disorganization, and attempts to circumvent the system through intermediaries “creates fertile ground for sophisticated fraud, capable of deceiving procurement processes.”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
