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The Antonov An-124 ''Ruslan'' ((ウクライナ語:Антонов Ан-124 "Руслан")) (NATO reporting name: Condor) is a strategic airlift jet aircraft. It was designed by the Antonov design bureau in the Ukrainian SSR, then part of the Soviet Union (USSR). Until the Boeing 747-8F, the An-124 was, for thirty years, the world's highest aircraft gross weight production cargo airplane and second heaviest operating cargo aircraft, behind the one-off Antonov An-225 (a greatly enlarged design based on the An-124). The An-124 remains the largest military transport aircraft in the world. During development it was known as ''Izdeliye 400'' (''Product #400'') in house, and ''An-40'' in the West. First flown in 1982, civil certification was issued on 30 December 1992.〔E. Gordon, ''Antonov's Heavy Transports'', Midland Publishing.〕 In July 2013, 26 An-124s were in commercial service with 10 on order.〔 In August 2014, it was reported that Antonov An-124 production was stopped due to the ongoing political tensions between Russia and Ukraine.〔 ==Development== During the 1970s, the VTA (Military Transport Aviation) arm of the Soviet Air Forces had a shortfall in strategic heavy airlift capacity. Its largest planes consisted of about 50 Antonov An-22 turboprops, which were used heavily for tactical roles. A classified 1975 CIA analysis concluded that the USSR did "...not match the US in ability to provide long-range heavy lift support."〔(Trends in Soviet Military Programs ) (October 1976) (originally Top Secret), Central Intelligence Agency.〕 The An-124 was manufactured in parallel by two plants: the Russian company Aviastar-SP (ex. Ulyanovsk Aviation Industrial Complex) and by the Kyiv Aviation Plant AVIANT, in Ukraine. Design work started in 1971 and construction of facilities began in 1973. Manufacturing on the first airframe began in 1979.〔(Era of Ruslan: 25 years ). Antonov, Accessed: 6 November 2011.〕 Ultimately this project brought together over 100 factories contracted to produce systems and parts. The first flight took place in December 1982 and the first exposure to the West followed in 1985 at the Paris Air Show.〔(The Condor: A New Soviet Heavy Transport ) (originally classified Secret), 1986, Central Intelligence Agency.〕 Russia and Ukraine agreed to resume the production in the third quarter of 2008. In May 2008, a new variant—the An-124-150—was announced; it featured several improvements, including a maximum lift capacity of 150 tonnes. However, in May 2009, Antonov's partner, United Aircraft Corporation announced it did not plan production of An-124s in the period 2009–2012. In late 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered production of the aircraft resumed. It is expected that Russia will purchase 20 new aircraft.〔Maternovsky, Dennis (2009). ("Russia to Resume Making World’s Largest Plane, Kommersant Says" ). Bloomberg.com. 24 December 2009. Accessed 28 Dec 2009.〕〔http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/3/2011/3/18/26/print/〕 In August 2014, Jane's reported that, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Yuri Slusar announced that Antonov An-124 production was stopped due to ongoing political tensions between Russia and Ukraine.〔() ''UPDATE: Time called on An-124 production re-start'', IHS Jane's Defence Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2015.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Antonov An-124 Ruslan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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