DTN News - RUSSIA DEFENSE NEWS: World's Largest Transport Aircraft Ruslan To Rise From Ashes

DTN News - RUSSIA DEFENSE NEWS: World's Largest Transport Aircraft Ruslan To Rise From Ashes

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Maria Abramova - Pravda Russia
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 5, 2013: The world's largest transport aircraft that made its first flight in 1982 was designed by Russian aircraft designers and to this day remains a record holder in terms of capacity among serial models. This aircraft is the legendary AN-124 designed for the needs of the army. For a long time, Ruslan has been forgotten, but now its production may be resumed.

The giant's outstanding technical parameters played a bad joke on it. "Ruslan" has been unjustly forgotten, and was out of demand for decades. Today, after the completion of the first phase of the negotiations on the joint Russian-Ukrainian production of a modified version of AN-124, one may speak of its rebirth

The reasons for the long oblivion are quite understandable. The completion of a troubled era of Cold War slowed down the development of weapons in Russia. There was no longer a need to carry heavy military vehicles - intercontinental ballistic missiles, mobile launchers, trucks, etc. The demands of peacetime proved to be too light for the "Russian miracle" (as "Ruslan" was called at a French Airshow in 1985). Civilian work was only enough to maintain a small handful of these aircraft. Civil orders came rarely and irregularly, and a few units serving the Ministry of Defense were idle.

In the new millennium, there were only a little over 20 machines operated by three airlines - "Polyot", "Volga-Dnepr" and "Antonov Airlines." All of them were "oldies" and it was difficult to maintain them at the appropriate technical level. The production of new AN-124 units was suspended long time ago, and by 2004 the production of spare parts was also stopped. Due to the lack of spare parts at the Ulyanovsk aircraft factory the assembly of two almost finished aircraft was frozen.  

In recent years, there has been a tendency towards the revival of the unique aircraft. It is clear that the production in its original form did not make sense, and a major upgrade in line with the current realities was needed. The load capacity of over 80 tons, ("Ruslan" was originally capable of lifting up to 140 tons at a time) exceeds the needs of even the largest customer, the Ministry of Defense. Reduction of this parameter would allow more efficient use of the power of the aircraft as well as would solve the issue with airfields. The lack of electronics in the control of the aircraft served as an undoubted advantage in time of war. The aircraft remained resistant to electromagnetic pulses, but the size of the crew was increased to six people. Noise level and environmental performance of the engine no longer met the international standards.

Yuriy Boyko, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, said that at the last July meeting in Sochi an agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine on the establishment of a joint venture for serial production of the modified model of "Ruslan" taking into account all of the above considerations. AN 124-200 will replace AN 124-100 and will be equipped with an advanced D18T engine with a digital control system that will reduce the crew to three people. The founding documents of the new joint venture are expected to be signed bilaterally by September of this year. After that it will be possible to more accurately forecast the timing of the release of the first aircraft. 

The location of production facilities and the company that will be entrusted with the implementation of the project has not been fully defined, but it is very likely that it will be the Russian "Aviastar-SP" in Ulyanovsk. The co-production will allow avoiding competition between the parties to the contract and will assist in promoting the products to the foreign market that according to analysts is ready to welcome the new aircraft giant. Boyko has no doubt that each of the countries participating in the agreement will contribute to the advancement of the project. Ukraine will bring innovation and technology, while Russia will provide financial support and assistance in negotiating sales contracts. 

Both countries are equally interested in the soonest start of the joint venture and are ready to start work immediately. In the case of successful implementation of mass production and the integration of the modified model AN-124, the experience can be transferred to other aircraft, both passenger and specialized. The production of the first machines will take a long time, especially considering lengthy technical tests.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Maria Abramova - Pravda Russia
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Delivers Three Upgraded MiG-29 Fighter Jets To India

DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Delivers Three Upgraded MiG-29 Fighter Jets To India

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - December 15, 2012:  The first three MiG-29UPG fighter jets have been delivered to India under a contract to modernize the fleet of MiG-29 aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the MiG aircraft maker said.

“The MiG corporation…has started deliveries ofupgraded MiG-29UPG fighter jets to the Indian Air Force,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

“The first three aircraft have been transported to India on board an AN-124 heavy-lift transport plane,” the statement said.

The IAF has awarded the MiG corporation a $900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s.

These upgrades include a new avionics kit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refueling to increase flying time.

The service life of the modernized aircraft has been extended to 40 years.

The first six aircraft are upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 will be refitted at the HAL facility in India.

In 2007, Russia gave India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a license to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade.

“We are getting ready to carry out the work on the second part of the contract, which stipulates the modernization of the [MiG-29] aircraft in India in close cooperation with the Indian defense industry,” the MiG press service said.

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*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News: Russia, U.S. Mull Joint Production Of An-124 Transport Planes

DTN News: Russia, U.S. Mull Joint Production Of An-124 Transport Planes

Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti 18/05/2010

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, - May 24, 2010: The United States is considering a Russian proposal on the joint production of An-124 Condor heavy-lift transport aircraft, a Russian deputy prime minister said. The An-124 was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in 1982, and was produced in Ukraine's Kiev and Russia's Ulyanovsk plants until 1995. Although there are no An-124s being built at present, Russia and Ukraine have reportedly agreed to resume production in the future. "We have discussed a full-scale project, which includes the joint production of the plane, setting up a joint venture, shared rights, sales to Russian and American customers - both civilian and military - and the creation of a scheme for post-production servicing," Sergei Ivanov told reporters in Washington. The An-124 is similar to the American Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but has a 25% larger payload. The aircraft has a maximum payload of 150 metric tons with a flight range of around 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). An-124s have been used extensively by several U.S. companies. Russian cargo company Volga-Dnepr has contracts with Boeing to ship outsize aircraft components to its Everett plant. United Launch Alliance contracts the An-124 to transport the Atlas V launch vehicle from its facilities near Denver to Cape Canaveral. Space Systems Loral contracts the An-124 to transport satellites from Palo Alto in California to the Arianespace spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. According to Ivanov, the Pentagon has contracted An-124 planes for military transport purposes until 2016. "The An-124 planes, made during the Soviet era, have been used extensively in the interests of U.S. customers. We are offering a full-scale project, rather than a simple lease," Ivanov said. Russia plans to manufacture a total of 20 An-124 aircraft by 2020 in accordance with the state arms procurement program.

Related News Russian Air Force may start receiving An-124 cargo jets in 2014 Russia and Ukraine to resume An-124 Ruslan aircraft production Ruslan heavy cargo plane needs $165 mln to resume production Russian Air Force to rehearse robotic strikes in defense exercise

DTN News: Russian Air Force May Start Receiving An-124 Cargo Jets By 2020

DTN News: Russian Air Force May Start Receiving An-124 Cargo Jets By 2020

*Source: DTN News/ RIA Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - December 26, 2009: A senior Russian Air Force official said he hoped the country's military will begin receiving new An-124 Ruslan (Condor) heavy-lift transport aircraft by 2020. "I believe that by 2020 we will begin receiving new aircraft of this type," Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin, commander of the 61st Air Army, said Friday at a news conference in Moscow. Russian Air Force Commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, said at the MAKS-2009 air show outside Moscow in August that the Defense Ministry decided to resume the production of the An-124, which could be used both for domestic and military purposes. The An-124 was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in 1982, and was produced in Ukraine's Kiev and Russia's Ulyanovsk until 1995. The plane has a maximum payload of 150 metric tons with a flight range of around 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). Kachalkin said that that the aircraft of this type is in high demand as "An-124 Ruslan is the most powerful military-transport aircraft in the world." He added that military equipment produced in the Soviet times is "unrivaled" and must be developed further without the necessity for Russia of placing military orders abroad. The cargo jet is the world's third largest after the An-225 and the Airbus A380F. Russia and Ukraine reached a preliminary agreement to resume production of the An-124 in April of 2008.

DTN News: Russian Military Plane Violates Indian Airspace / US-Hired Aircraft Flouts Airspace, Forced To Land

DTN News: Russian Military Plane Violates Indian Airspace / US-Hired Aircraft Flouts Airspace, Forced To Land

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) MUMBAI, India - June 21, 2009: In a major violation of Indian airspace, a Russian aircraft hired by the US military which was overflying India on Friday evening was instructed by the defence ministry to change its flight path mid-way and head for Mumbai airport.

The Ukrainian-make AN-124 aircraft, owned by Russian private airline Volga-Dnepr, "would be allowed to get airborne again today" after the External Affairs Ministry gives the Air Operations Routing (AOR) authority to fly over Indian airspace, said IAF spokesperson Wg Cdr T K Singh on Saturday.

The Antonov 124, which intelligence sources said had 18 Russians on board, was on its way from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — where the US has a base — to Kandahar in south Afghanistan when it was intercepted by Mumbai ATF on orders from the defence ministry. The defence ministry’s public relations official, Captain M Nambiar, confirmed that a foreign aircraft was instructed to divert to Mumbai airport.

"There has been a violation of our airspace by a civilian aircraft," he said. However, he denied that any IAF aircraft had escorted the US aircraft even as sources maintained that two IAF jets had indeed escorted the aircraft to Mumbai airport.

"An aircraft belonging to the US defence landed in Mumbai airport at 10.35 pm," said M G Junghare, general manager of Mumbai airport. The Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson also confirmed the development, saying the aircraft was temporarily parked near runway 14.

According to the sources, the aircraft while seeking permission from the defence ministry to fly over Indian airspace had identified itself as a civil aircraft doing a non-scheduled (charter) operation.

All foreign aircraft doing non-scheduled or defence flights are required to submit their flight plans to obtain permission from Indian authorities to overfly Indian airspace. "This aircraft had asked for the status of a non-scheduled aircraft and it flew over Indian flight information region as such.

But to enter Pakistani airspace, it identified itself as a defence aircraft. It was still in Indian territory when this happened. The ambiguous status of the aircraft forced the defence ministry to issue orders to divert it to Mumbai," said the source.

DTN News: Russia To Upgrade Military Transport Fleet, Buy New Planes

DTN News: Russia To Upgrade Military Transport Fleet, Buy New Planes

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - May 29, 2009: The acquisition of new aircraft for Russia's military transport aviation will begin in 2012, while modernized Il-76, An-22 and An-124 aircraft will remain in service for another 20-30 years, a senior Air Force official said on Friday. According to various sources, there are up to 300 transport aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force, including An-12 Cub, An-72 Coaler, An-22 Cock, An-124 Condor and Il-76 Candid planes. Most of the aircraft entered service in the 1960s and 1970s and are considered outdated by modern safety and noise pollution standards. "The current state arms procurement program envisions the acquisition of new aircraft for military transport aviation starting in 2012," Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin, commander of the 61st Air Army told a news conference in Moscow. In the light transport category, Russia has opted for the Il-112V plane although the aircraft is still at the design stage. In the medium-lift category, Russia relies on a joint Russian-Indian project set to be implemented in three to four years. Russia and India signed last year an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA). There is also a need for the Russian-Ukrainian An-70 medium-range transport plane, Kachalkin said. However, he said the procurement of new aircraft would not be enough to satisfy the demand for the high mobility of Russia's Armed Forces in line with a new military doctrine. Therefore, the current military transport fleet must be thoroughly upgraded and the service life of existing planes should be extended for another 20-30 years, the general said. "We are planning a deep modernization of the fleet of Il-76 and An-124 in service. Their airframes are still in great shape, and what we really need is to upgrade the avionics and possibly engines," Kachalkin said. The Russian Air Force has begun in 2002 to upgrade its Il-76MD transport aircraft, but this has been a slow process. According to the modernization program, 12 Il-76 aircraft are due to be modernized to Il-76MD-90 variant before 2010. The An-124 and its modernized version, the An-124-100, will remain in service as a strategic heavy airlift transport aircraft. Russia currently deploys an air regiment equipped with these planes.

Russia, Ukraine Discuss Joint Aircraft Production / Meeting of Ukrainian-Russian On Cooperation In Aviation Industry At ANTONOV ASTC

Russia, Ukraine Discuss Joint Aircraft Production / Meeting of Ukrainian-Russian On Cooperation In Aviation Industry At ANTONOV ASTC

(NSI News Source Info) April 1, 2009: On March 24, 2009, the fourth meeting of Ukrainian-Russian subcommitee on questions of cooperation in sphere of aviation industry took place at ANTONOV ASTC. Leaders of the ministries and aviation enterprises of both contries participated in it.

The Antonov An-148 is a regional jet aircraft designed by the Ukrainian aircraft firm Antonov. In December 2006 the An-148 completed certification testing and on February 26, 2007 received its type certificate with the Motor Sich D-436-148 engines and AI-450-MS Auxiliary Power Unit, a variant of the -9 APU series, from the Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR). There are plans to certify this airplane according to Joint Aviation Authorities JAR-25 standards, as the existing certification have already been designed to meet the ICAO Ch. 4 (noise and environmental requirements) as well as the established Western European airworthiness rules. An-148 is currently produced by Russian Voronezh Aircraft Production Association.

The Ukrainian party of the subcommitee was headed by Mr. Pinskii, First Deputy Minister of industrial policy of Ukraine – Chairman of Agency on Defense Industrial Complex, the Russian one – by Mr. Mantourov, Deputy Minister of industry and trade of Russian Federation.

During the meeting parties considered a number of questions directed at strengthening of cooperation in aviation branch including:

--insertion of additions into the Agreement between governments of Ukraine and Russian Federation on cooperation in sphere of development, production, deliveries and operation of aircraft dated August 20, 1997;

--possible ways of integration of “Joint Aviation Company” Russian JSC and Ukrainian aircraft building enterprises;

--joint production of AN-148, AN-140 and AN-74 families;

--assumption of serial production of AN-124 heavy transport.

As a result of the discussion the parties signed the Minutes with certain measures to realize the abovementioned questions.

Mr. Kiva, ANTONOV ASTC General Designer, President of Antonov Aircraft Building Concern, said: “Today we have worked very productively. It is pleasantly, that we have come to terms with our Russian colleagues practically in all questions. Our today’s meeting, without doubt, became one more fruitful step on the way of many years cooperation of aviation plants of Ukraine and Russia”.

NATO Depends On Russian An-124 Transporters

NATO Depends On Russian An-124 Transporters

(NSI News Source Info) December 26, 2008: NATO has extended, for two years, its leasing arrangement for two Russian/Ukrainian An-124 transports (full time) and another four on call as needed. These aircraft are leased from a Ukrainian firm. When the An-124 was developed, in the 1980s, much of the work was done in Ukraine (which was then part of the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991). Production is now split between Russia and Ukraine, and both countries operate the aircraft. The Antonov An-124 Ruslan was the largest airplane in production until the Antonov An-225 was built. During development it was known as the An-400 and An-40 in the West, and it flew for the first time in 1982. Civil certification was issued by the CIS Interstate Aviation Committee on 30 December 1992. Over forty are currently in service (26 civilian models with airlines and 10 firm orders as of August 2006) and 20 were in commercial use in 1998 in Russia, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Libya. NATO plans to fly it's two An-124s 1,500 hours each in 2009, as well as booking over a thousand hours on the four other An-124s it has access to. NATO uses the aircraft to support peacekeeping operations in Africa and Afghanistan. Russia has a major success on its hands with the An-124 cargo aircraft. Designed at the end of the Cold War, only sixty were built. But the market for aircraft that can carry oversize cargo has grown twice as fast as the air cargo market in general.

The An-124, and the U.S. Air Force C-5, are the only two transports that can handle oversize material. And the An-124 is the only "jumbo" available for charter. So production of the An-124 will be resumed. Another fifty, or more, aircraft are to be built, starting in 2009. The last one was completed in 2004. The new An-124s will cost about $150 million each. Currently, about 40 An-124s are in service, 26 with civilian airlines. The An-124 is the world's largest production aircraft and can carry a payload of 120 tons. The An-124 cruises at a speed of around 800 to 850 kilometers per hour, it can carry a maximum payload around 4,500 kilometers, or carry less cargo, and more fuel, for up to 16,500 kilometers. There are around 40 An-124s doing commercial work, with another twenty in military service In the late 1980s, a modification of the An-124, the slightly larger An-225, was built. With two extra engines and a larger wing, the An-225 can carry over 250 tons. A second An-225 was being built when the Cold War ended. Construction was halted, but demand for An-124s has been so strong, that the second An-225 taken out of storage and is being completed.

New An-225s would cost close to $200 million each. These are a bargain compared to the $225 million cost of a new American C-17 cargo aircraft. The C-17 also only carries around 79 tons of cargo. If sales of the new An-124 take off, more An-225s may be available as well.