Originally intended to replace the Antonov An-26, studies concerning the development of the An-72 began in the 1970s Two prototypes were built.
Originally ຈຸດປະສົງເພື່ອທົດແທນການ Antonov An-26, ການສຶກສາກ່ຽວກັບການພັດທະນາ, ຈະ 72 ໄດ້ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃນ 1970 ສອງ prototypes ໄດ້ຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນ.