RUSSIA AND UKRAINE RESUME PRODUCTION OF THE AN-124-100

A meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in the Russian Federal Agency of Industry conducted by Boris Alyoshin, Head of the Agency, has agreed on steps towards launching the project to resume production of the AN-124-100 aircraft and the stage-by-stage modernisation of this unique freighter in Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting decided to produce the business-plan for the project by the end of November 2004 for consideration at the next interstate meeting in the Federal Agency of Industry in December.

According to experts, the size of the world market for the AN-124-100 is increasing by 15-20 % per year. By the year 2017, multiples of 10 new AN-124-100s may be required. Taking into account the obvious demand for this unique aircraft and its future potential in the world market, Volga-Dnepr Group, the world’s largest operator of the AN-124-100, together with ANTK Antonov and other interested parties in Russia and Ukraine plan to relaunch series production of the AN-124-100 at Aviastar - SP, the Ulyanovsk-based aviation plant.

The first step towards starting the project was the acceptance and signing by representatives of Russia and Ukraine of a document: "Decision on prime measures on resuming the series production of AN-124-100 and the stage-by-stage modernisation of the unique aircraft at the enterprises of Russia and Ukraine." This was the basis for the meeting in the Federal Agency of Industry.

The meeting brought together from the Russian side, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Forces, Vladimir Mihajlov, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Power, the Russian Ministry of Transport, the general director of the Joint-Stock Company Aviastar - SP Victor Mihajlov, the president of Volga-Dnepr Group Alexey Isaikin and the general director of Polet airline, Anatoly Karpov. Ukraine was represented by the state secretary of the Ministry of Industrial politics, Valery Kazakov, General Designer of ANTK Antonov, Peter Balabuev, General Director of Motor-Sich, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, representatives of ZKMB Progress and KiGAZ Aviant.

At the meeting, the Head of Federal Agency of Industry, Boris Alyoshin, emphasised: “I am satisfied with the level of co-operation and the mutual understanding achieved between all parties involved in the realisation of this national project. I am confident, that the meeting creates the new base to significant amplification of this work on all the directions. It is pleasant that Russian and Ukrainian parties at the highest interstate level understand the importance of resuming the series production of the AN-124-100 for the economy of our countries, the revival of the aviation industry and increased competitiveness in the world aviation market.

Speaking at the meeting, Alexey Isaikin, President of Volga-Dnepr Group noted the importance of concentrating on the financial and intellectual efforts at governmental level in order to attract the necessary resources and orders for the new AN-124-100. General Designer of ANTK Antonov, Peter Balabuev, added that "the design bureau supports the necessity of joint efforts on resuming the series production of aircraft of the AN-124 family."

Participants at the meeting agreed that the successful realisation of this project will require a number of stages, key to which is the creation of a branch of ANTK Antonov in Russia, formation of a separate business structure for managing the project and the prompt development of the business-plan, involving financial institutions.

An interdepartmental advice meeting at the base of ANTK Antonov in Kiev in September plans to establish a working group on the project to define conditions of its activity and the order of financing the business-plan. Volga-Dnepr Group will provide all organisational support and prepare the necessary documentation.

Additional information:

The AN-124-100 Ruslan is the largest serial transport aircraft ever built. It was designed by Antonov Design Bureau in the late 1970s and performed its first flight in 1982.

The aircraft production involved more than 500 Soviet companies. Aviastar (Ulyanovsk) and Aviant (Kiev) manufacturing plants performed the aircraft assembly then. To the present day, fifty-six AN-124-100 Ruslans have been manufactured and half of them are used in commercial operations.

The project of resuming the series production and modernisation of the AN-124 was launched at the Moscow Aerospace Show in 2003. Then, Volga-Dnepr and Antonov Design Bureau came to an agreement to move forward with the AN-124-100 production revival program as well as to design and build a new upgraded version of the aircraft for the global market. Russian and Ukrainian parties including Rosaviakosmos, Interstate Aviation Committee, Russia’s Civil Aviation Authority, Volga-Dnepr Group, Antonov Design Bureau, the Ukrainian Aviation Authority, Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Science signed all the corresponding papers.

The modernised version will be equipped with the latest, sophisticated avionics and upgraded engines. The jet will offer an improved payload of up to 150 tons and an increased flight range. The aircraft is also expected to require a smaller crew. Currently several modifications of the aircraft are under development.

According to some project participants, the revival will lead to increased activity in the Russian aircraft manufacturing sector, contribute to Russia and Ukraine’s leadership in the global outsize and heavyweight air cargo market, strengthen co-operation between Russia and Ukraine and create a foundation for further technological breakthroughs in the civil aviation field.

The resumption of AN-124-XXX production, along with the IL-76 modernisation program that is already being implemented, may become one of the most ambitious and promising tasks for the Russian industry within the next few years.