You're reading: Ukrainian, Russian Ruslan aircraft win new NATO tender under SALIS program

Ukraine and Russia will continue to cooperate with NATO in the provision of transport opportunities in the interests of the alliance and the EU as part of the SALIS program (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution).

A senior military source told Interfax-Ukraine that Ukrainian and Russian An-124-100 heavy transport aircraft had won a new NATO tender announced in March 2012, as part of the SALIS program.

“The tender committee has given preference to a joint proposal of Antonov Airlines and Russia’s Volga-Dnepr. The working out and preparation of a new two-year contract have started. The contract itself is to be signed before the end of the year,” he said.

“The proposals of Ukrainian and Russian partners on participation in a tender for the provision of transport opportunities in the interests of the alliance and the EU for the next period foresee joint cooperation under the scheme developed within six years, using Ruslan SALIS airlines, given that it has confirmed its effectiveness,” the source said.

Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines and Russia’s Volga-Dnepr airlines are the world’s leading operators of the An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft, which has a cargo capacity of 130 tonnes.

In late 2005 the partners signed with the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) a contract for the transportation of cargo for NATO and the EU worth EUR 600 million, which was to last for three years with the right of prolongation. In late 2008 the contract was prolonged for two years and in December 2010 it was prolonged for two more years.

According to the contract, two An-124-100 aircraft are permanently based in Germany and four more aircraft are provided to the customer on demand.

Ruslan International Ltd. (RI, Stansted, Britain), established by Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr in 2006, is the single marketing agent of the Ukrainian and Russian operators.

Ruslan SALIS (RS, Leipzig, Germany) also implements strategic transportation within the NATO SALIS program in the interests of the 18 NATO member states and the EU countries.