Feb 28 | 2022
Restoring World’s Largest Aircraft Could Cost Billions
Antonov Airlines’ AN-225 “Mriya”, the world’s largest cargo aircraft, has been destroyed during Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s Gostomel Airport.
The project cargo specialist’s parent company, Ukrainian state weapons manufacturer Ukroboronprom, said the plane, the only one of its kind ever built, had been undergoing repair and routine maintenance at the time of the Russian attack.
As part of the work, one of the AN-225's six engines had been dismantled, preventing flying crews from making an emergency departure as Russian forces advanced.
Fighting for control of the strategically located airport, a base for Antonov’s operations located close to capital city Kyiv, has been ongoing since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Russian forces are now in control, according to local reports.
“Russian occupiers destroyed the flagship of Ukrainian aviation – the legendary AN-225 ‘Mriya’,” Ukroboronprom said in a statement. “The occupiers destroyed the airplane, but they will not be able to destroy our common dream. Mriya will definitely be reborn.”
To rebuild the AN-225 would cost “more than US$3 billion”, Ukroboronprom added, although in a later statement the weapons maker said it was “impossible” while the airport remained in Russian hands to gauge the condition of the aircraft or the likelihood of it being restored.
The AN-225 was built 40 years ago for the Soviet space shuttle programme, making its first flight in December 1988. Commercial operations began in 2001.
The mammoth jet could carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo in one delivery, and was used to transport heavy project cargo such as transformers, turbines, satellites, oil and gas components, industrial machinery, aircraft parts, helicopters, trains and yachts.
More recently the AN-225 was called on to deliver urgent medical supplies during the pandemic.
A recent overhaul had aimed to keep the aircraft flying until at least 2033, with further upgrades in the pipeline.
It was unclear if any damage had been inflicted on other aircraft in Antonov’s fleet, including the company’s seven AN-124s. Neither Antonov nor Ukroboronprom immediately responded to an email requesting further information.
Check out our recent interview with Andriy Blagovisniy, commercial director at Antonov Airlines.
