Ukraine offers to provide NATO with cargo aircraft
Ukraine's state-run Antonov Airlines has said it is willing to provide more cargo planes to NATO after a Russian company said it would halt its contract with the transatlantic alliance at the end of 2018.
In early April, Russian aircraft provider Volga-Dnepr, a world leader in transporting oversize and heavy air cargo, said it would not extend its contract for the provision of its Soviet-designed Antonov 124s to NATO armies.
The halt of the contract, which Volga-Dnepr had renewed each year since 2006, comes as tensions run high between Russia and NATO.
NATO nations have been forced to charter Antonov 124s from firms in the former Soviet Union due to a lack of their own own cargo aircraft, which has been aggravated by delays in the development and delivery of the Airbus A400M.
Under the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) both Volga-Dnepr and Antonov Airlines had provided NATO with up to six transport aircraft altogether.
‘Antonov is ready to expand its cooperation... and guarantees the provision of as many planes as are needed for the project,’ a spokeswoman told AFP on 27 April.
There was no immediate comment from NATO but earlier this month the bloc said it was working with its members ‘to explore options to meet their future airlift requirement from January 2019 onward.’
The unavailability of Antonov 124s would be a problem for France especially as delays the A400M has left it very dependent on the aircraft for overseas missions.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems]()
Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
-
![Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans]()
Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
-
![European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap]()
European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
-
![Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026]()
Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026
The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.
-
![GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements]()
GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements
The US Government Accountability Office recently released two reports; one into the availability of selected equipment and another looking at how the government gets data and intellectual property rights through contracting.
