New Build An-124
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
There have been a flurry of press comment on the possibility of the Russian military ordering new An124 aircraft to kick start the production of new build aircraft.
The comment mostly seeming to come from UAC President and CEO Alexei Fyodorov as well as the head of the Russian Air Force. For an example see http://www.russiandefenseblog.org/?p=694
However, despite military aircraft and those of Rossiya being seen more frequently these days there is no mention of the maybe 40 aircraft that were in military service at the break up of the Soviet Union and subsequently mothballed. These must surely be more cost effective for the military to put back into service.
Although some of the current commercial An-124 fleet are new build since that time the majority date from that era and began their lives with very early modification states. So there is clearly no technical reason why they could not be upgraded to current standards.
It is also interesting to see Mr Fyodorov referring to the necessity for a military order before the whole program can begin. With a $200 million dollar price tag and a cruising speed some 10% less than conventional aircraft due to the fundamental aerodynamics of a ramp loading airplane it is difficult to see even an upgraded An-124 being competitive in operating economics with competing aircraft.
So we complete the circle and large scale civil aircraft production is again dependent on the military picking up the tab to kick start the program. A typical US approach yet state subsidy as argued by Airbus.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
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Comments on New Build An-124
I was reading a couple things this morning and had a different reading than you did in this article.
You wrote`:
"However, despite military aircraft and those of Rossiya being seen more frequently these days there is no mention of the maybe 40 aircraft that were in military service at the break up of the Soviet Union and subsequently mothballed. These must surely be more cost effective for the military to put back into service."
However, here, on the page where VD talks about restarting An-124 production (http://www.volga-dnepr.com/eng/group/projects/reconstruction124/) they say:
"The commencement of large-scale Military reorganization beginning 2008 resulted in the intention of the Russian Ministry of Defense to place an order for AN-124 fleet modernization being in operation of the military aviation. The aircraft will be upgraded at Aviastar-SP involving the Volga-Dnepr operational, financial, and intellectual resources. The order size (over 20 machines to be upgraded) will allow to establish a full production line and train a qualified staff for further serial manufacture of new Ruslan aircraft. "
My interpretation is not that the Russian Air Force is to order new An-124s but rather that the resumption of new An-124s is dependent on the Russian Air Force providing Aviastar with a contract for upgrading over 20 of its machines, probably to at least An-124-100 standard.
Reading some Russian forums http://aviaforum.ru/showthread.php?t=2156&page=9 and looking at pictures like this Dec 2009 one (http://russianplanes.net/EN/IDM14209) it seems that this process has maybe begun. RA-82013 ( http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia—Air/Antonov-An-124-Ruslan/1144252/&sid=078a3f5b7ed9605d2151441a2b027d0c) which had been grounded for years after a hard landing and a runway overrun has recently been overhauled and upgraded
Just a theory anyway………
Gilles,
Thanks for your input. That looks like a rational interpretation to me.
Bruce
This is the picture I meant to post
http://russianplanes.net/EN/ID14206