Overview of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, The Antonov Aircraft Design Bureau, The Kiev Aircraft Factory; Conversion to Production of Consumer Items

This intelligence assessment, dated January 10, 1990, provides an overview of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, the Antonov Aircraft Design Bureau, and the Kiev Aircraft Factory. The Academy of Sciences is described as a large institution with 84 experimental institutes and 90,000 employees. Its research spans various disciplines, including space exploration, bioprocesses in weightlessness, and radioastronomy. Notably, the document states that the Academy has expressed interest in cooperating with the United States on research concerning unidentified flying objects, though it notes that some scientists consider the subject a serious problem. The document further reports that the Academy is no longer participating in the Soviet Mars program. Regarding industrial capabilities, the Antonov Aircraft Design Bureau is identified as the designer of commercial and cargo aircraft, including the AN-225, which was utilized for the Buran space shuttle. The Kiev Aircraft Factory is noted for its close cooperation with the Antonov bureau, producing the AN-24 passenger plane and the AN-26, the latter of which has been exported to Africa, Asia, Peru, and Eastern Europe. The factory is also described as undergoing a transition to produce consumer goods, such as washing machines and medical products, to address economic requirements, while maintaining its aviation production capabilities.