Ukraine to consider government financing for An-124-100 Ruslan modernization project

14:41

Ukraine will consider the possibility of state participation in financing development projects to modernize the Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft and the D-18T engine.

A relevant agreement was reached at a meeting of a subcommittee for cooperation in aircraft the industry of the Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental economic committee in Moscow, a source close to the negotiations told Interfax-Ukraine.

During the meeting, Russian delegates briefed their Ukrainian counterparts about the technical capabilities of the enterprises that supply materials and assembly units for the An-124 family of aircraft.

"After the enterprises finish agreeing the project, a joint working group will send the governments of Ukraine and Russia the conclusion about the technical capabilities for the mass production of the An-124 aircraft," the agency's interlocutor said.

In August, Antonov Design Bureau, Russia's United Aircraft Corporation and Volga-Dnepr Group signed the technical requirements for the development of an upgraded version of the Antonov An-124-100 cargo plane.

The new plane will have a cargo capacity of 150 tonnes. The flight range will increase to 4,000 kilometers with a maximum load and 15,000 kilometers when empty. The crew will be cut to three members. The avionics will undergo a thorough modernization.

The Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI) and the Civil Aviation State Research Institute analyzed technical documents submitted by the Antonov Design Bureau and confirmed their report on the service life of the Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan and its modifications. The report confirmed the aircraft's service life of 50,000 flight hours, 10,000 flights and 45 calendar years.

The mass production of the modernized Ruslan An-124 aircraft is scheduled to start in 2012.

24.11.2009