April 18, 2006: Russia has a major success on its hands with the An-124 cargo aircraft. Designed and 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 will be produced, starting in about two years. The new An-124s will cost about $150 million each.
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 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.
