Article Posted on : - May 22, 2012

Military Transport aircraft An-124.

MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Air Force has received three modernized Antonov An-124-100 transport aircraft while four more are being updated, said Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik.

"The air force has got three modernized Ruslan An-124-100s and four more are being updated at the Ulyanovsk Aviastar factory," Ria Novosti quoted the spokesman as saying.

The main components of the modernization programme for the super-heavy transport aircraft are a new avionics suite and navigation system, increased range of up to 5,400 km, and a strengthened airframe.

The aircraft will also get a new braking system allowing it to make 30 percent shorter landing runs besides a new SRPPZ-2000 terrain warning awareness system.

The Air Force plans to modernize another ten or so An-124s to An-124-100M standard, Drik said.

"The service will also get up to ten new-build An-124-300 transports with an increase in payload of up to 150 tons," he said.

The An-124 is Russia's main long-range heavy transport aircraft. It is capable of carrying outsize loads and landing on rough airstrips.