Ukraine, Russia to set up An-124 overhaul joint venture
03SEP2013
Antonov Design Bureau (Gostomel) will see its robust An-124 transporters get a new lease on life after Ukraine and Russia have entered into a tentative joint production deal to modernize the heavy lift transport aircraft. Announced at the just ended MAKS 2013 International Air & Space salon at Moscow Zhukovsky, the finalized deal will be signed sometime this month and once underway, will result in numerous ageing An-124s undergoing modernization and upgrading with new, Ivchenko-Progress ZMKB Lotarev D-18T powerplants to be installed at Russia’s Ulyanovsk plant. The navigation system, landing gear and avionics will also be replaced, extending the An-124’s service life through to 2025. According to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Yuriy Boiko, production should become profitable once orders exceed 40+ aircraft. There are currently optional orders for 61 aircraft, 50 of which are from Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Airlines (VI, Ulyanovsk Vostochny).
