On March 23, 2006, in Leipzig the ceremony, which officially opened the Ruslan aircraft operation within NATO SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) programme, was held. The representatives of Ministries of Defence of the countries participating in the programme, official persons of NATO, Ukrainian and Russian Embassies took part in the ceremony.
NATO will use [AN-124] Ruslan [heavy transport aircraft] in accordance with the Contract signed in January, 2006 between NAMSA (NATO Maintenance and Support Agency) and Ruslan SALIS GmbH.
NAMSA acts on behalf of NATO. Ruslan SALIS GmbH represents interests of Antonov ASTC (Ukraine) and Volga-Dnepr group companies (Russia). According to this document two AN-124-100 airplanes will be constantly based in Leipzig airport. Another 4 aircraft will be put on disposal by request. The AN-124-100 will carry out strategic transportations in the interests of European Community and NATO within the period till 2012.
On March 23, 2006 the first two of leased AN-124-100 arrived to Leipzig-Halle airport. One of them belongs to Antonov Airlines -- the structural subdivision of Antonov ASTC -- the other one to Volga-Dnepr group companies.
These two largest in the world operators of Ruslan aircraft are the equal in rights participants of the programme. Their joint victory in the tender on carrying out cargo transportations announced by NATO in 2004 is another striking example of the effective unification of efforts of Ukraine and Russia in the aviation field. These companies together created a mechanism consisting of airplanes, crews, complex of maintenance and organization of air transportation.
Reliability of its work doesn’t raise doubts. It is ensured with both the unique characteristics of the Ruslan and a high -skilled flight and technical personnel of Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr. Besides these companies have a multi-year experience to perform transportations by orders of the European countries and Canada. So, within the period from 2002 till now Antonov Airlines airplanes delivered about 80,000 t of cargo under the Alliance order.
Unification of the efforts let partners on the programme to place at the disposal of the European states and Canada not all their airplanes but only part of the fleet. Thus they saved their presence in the market of commercial transportations that is very important for fulfillment of their obligations in relation to other customers.
Besides use of Ruslans in SALIS programme means increasing demand for these aircraft services. It also proves the expediency to renew serial production of the AN-124 type aircraft.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
The AN-124-100 as a transport is able to carry the necessary number of cargoes to any destination at the planet within the undertime was chosen by 15 countries: Hungary, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia Slovenia, France ad Czechia on tender basis. Recently Sweden joined the programme.
The necessity to lease such an aircraft is explained by the aspiration of these countries to increase their participation in peacemaking, humanitarian and other missions. Transport aviation is one of the most important instrument for it.
The Ruslan was chosen under many aspects including its considerable advantages over its main competitor American Boeing C-17. If accounting for lifting capability, the Ruslan surpasses C-17 almost twice (120 t of AN-124-100 and 150 t of AN-124-100 against 76.7 t of C-17); the same may be said concerning cargo cabin volume and flight range.
This aircraft is able to be operated away from its maintenance bases during long time. This ability of the aircraft is confirmed by daily practice. Besides, it is equipped with cargo handling facilities which its competitor has none. These facilities allow perform loading/unloading operations including those directly from the truck-bed through tail cargo ramp.
-ends-
The Ruslans Started Operation by the Contract with EC and NATO
