Why Russia Cannot Resume Production of the Legendary An-124 "Ruslan" Aircraft

Back in 2018, discussions began in Russia about the possibility of resuming production of the legendary An-124 "Ruslan" heavy transport aircraft. However, as of September 2025, the project has not been implemented in either of these countries.

The main reason is the decline of aircraft manufacturing plants, the high cost of production, and the shortage of qualified specialists. However, there are other factors as well.

One of the Most Advanced in the World

The An-124 "Ruslan" is known for its reliability, capacity, and payload, and the aircraft remains one of the most advanced in the world. A total of 56 such aircraft were built, of which 36 are operated in Russia, seven in Ukraine, and one each in Azerbaijan, Libya, and the UAE. The remaining aircraft were lost as a result of scheduled flights, tests, or combat operations.

An-124 "Ruslan" Specifications:

Crew - 4-6 or 6-7 people depending on the modification

Maximum takeoff weight - 405,000 kg

Maximum payload - 120-150 tons

Cruising speed - 865 km/h

Practical range - 16,500 km

Service ceiling - 12,000 m

In 2015, Russia modernized 22 An-124 aircraft. The air freighters had their navigation system, avionics, chassis, fuselage, and wings updated, and their payload capacity was also increased.

So Why Can't Russia Produce the An-124 Independently?

Since 2014, all repair work on Russian-made "Ruslans" has been carried out by the Ulyanovsk aircraft manufacturing plant, Aviastar-SP CJSC. In 2020, the company successfully repaired six "Ruslans" without the help of Ukraine. The lifespan of the existing aircraft should last until 2040. However, the issue of resuming production remains unresolved.

The An-124 was created in the USSR thanks to the efforts of many enterprises. Specialists from all over the country were involved in its production. In modern conditions, the creation of such an aircraft is possible only with the participation of specialists from all over the world.

Why it was named "Ruslan"

There are two versions of the origin of the name "Ruslan". The first is related to Alexander Pushkin's poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila". The second claims that the designer Oleg Antonov created the abbreviation of the aircraft from the words "Russian Liner Antonov".

Earlier www1.ru reported that Russia will invest 765 billion rubles in the project "Production of Aircraft and Helicopters".