Does the Updating Program Scrap Plans for a New ‘Ruslan’?

Q: Artem, which are the main reasons for deciding to retrofit your company’s existing fleet of An-124-100s instead opting in favor of constructing a successor to the basic model?

A: Actually, the main reason is that the existing An-124-100 fleet has the basic potential to extend its lifetime cycle substantially once technically updated, while meeting all requirements demanded by the regulators, ICAO or IATA, including environmental and noise issues. To build a new An-124 XXX will require several billion euros and around ten years from kicking off the development until entry into service. In comparison, modernizing the current fleet affords less time and is much cheaper, costing only several hundred million euros. However, this expenditure of course depends on the technical specifications we still have to configure. 

Q: Does the decision for upgrading Volga-Dnepr’s existing An-100 fleet terminate all plans to building a new An-124 XXX?

A: The idea to develop a newly-built successor for the An-124-100s is still in our mind. As said, the modernized aircraft An-124-115M can be operated up to 2035 or even longer. But this leads to the question which large transporter we will use after 2040 for conducting commercial missions? To answer this question we need to start thinking today. But it doesn’t mean that this aircraft will look like the current An-124. We have already started a feasibility study on this subject. Key is to understand the future demand of the air freight market, which aircraft technologies are required and what global environmental standards will look like in 30-plus years. Currently, we are studying several scenarios and related aircraft concepts. This starts with simple passenger aircraft conversions to oversized cargo aircraft like the Airbus A300-600ST Beluga or Boeing’s 747-400LCF, and includes concepts for a completely new transport aircraft, specifically designed for oversized and super heavy freight operation. Our major task is to provide an aircraft solution suitable for Volga-Dnepr’s business development and sustainable long term future.

Heiner Siegmund