Antonov An-124 NATO SALIS Program Extended Through End of 2010

Released on Monday, December 29, 2008

On December 18, 2008 the contract, concluded on January 17, 2006 between NAMSA (NATO Maintenance and Support Agency), representing NATO interests and Ruslan SALIS GmbH, representing ANTONOV ASTC (Ukraine) and Volga-Dnepr (Russia) group of companies was prolonged. The contract was prolonged till December 31, 2010. According to them AN-124-100 Ruslan airplanes of Antonov Airlines and Volga Dnepr are used within the limits of NATO SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) programme. These aircraft carry out cargoes by requests of 18 countries: Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Canada, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden.

Prolongation of the Contract is the bright evidence of high evaluation of AN-124 Ruslan and the work performed within the limits of SALIS. Airplans of Antonov Airlines engaged in the programme, performed 550 flights and transported more than 33000 t of different cargoes. The mechanism consisting of airplanes crews and operating service organizing transportations, proved its effectiveness. In accordance with the contract 2 AN-124-100 aiplanes are constantly based in the airport of Leipzig (Germany). In case of necessity the additional machines are being provided by request. At that Ruslans must not return to their main base in Kiev or Ulianovsk as the base of their maintenance works in Leipzig Halle from January 2007.