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