Russian Air Force Backing Needed For An-124

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/RUSLAN121709.xml

Dec 17, 2009

Alexey Komarov/Moscow

Michael A. Taverna/Paris

Russia's big An-124-100 Ruslan freighter appears closer to a new lease
on life, provided promised funding and commitments are forthcoming.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently approved a plan to restart
production of an upgraded An-124 version at the Aviastar-SP plant in
Ulyanovsk, under the responsibility of United Aircraft Corp. (UAC).
Known as the An-124-500, it would feature a glass cockpit for four
crewmembers and enhancements to the aircraft's Motor Sich D18-T
powerplant that would boost range and payload and double the
aircraft's operating life to 50,000 hr. Deliveries would begin by
2014-15.