War and the Russian and Ukrainian An-124's, and alternatives

[zubenelgenubi]

What are the dispositions of the Russian and Ukrainian An-124's?  These superheavy airlift craft are often used to ship large and heavy satellites on transcontinental and transoceanic flights.

The use of a Volga-Dnepr An-124 required a waiver in the United States (as part of the 2014 sanctions?).

Is use of the Russian craft now forbidden?

Will there be spacecraft delivery delays as a result?

(Example: Upcoming delivery of the MEASAT and GSAT geocomm satellites to Kourou for launch in late April)

[Josh_from_Canada]

I haven't seen any reports on Volga-Dnepr being banned from transporting satellite but the closure of EU airspace to Russian aircraft causes challenges.
https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1497973334847414278

[russianhalo117]

I haven't seen any reports on Volga-Dnepr being banned from transporting satellite but the closure of EU airspace to Russian aircraft causes challenges.
https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1497973334847414278

There are non EU routes available that have been used in 2014, during the Georgia 🇬🇪 conflict and due to weather.

[russianhalo117]

What are the dispositions of the Russian and Ukrainian An-124's?  These superheavy airlift craft are often used to ship large and heavy satellites on transcontinental and transoceanic flights.

The use of a Volga-Dneiper An-124 required a waiver in the United States (as part of the 2014 sanctions?).

Is use of the Russian craft now forbidden?

Will there be spacecraft delivery delays as a result?

(Example: Upcoming delivery of the MEASAT and GSAT geocomm satellites to Kourou for launch in late April)

Antonov Airlines AN-124's not in the country at the time (The since destroyed AN-225 was scheduled to fly to an unannounced airfield per a later cancelled prefiled flight plan with EUROCONTROL):
UR-82029/UR-82072/UR-82073/UR-82007/UR-82008/UR-82027

The UAE has one they bought a long time ago along with an IL-76TD which are in active service and can transport spacecraft.

https://www.maximus-air.com/

Note that Volga-Dnepr has a US subsidiary in Houston, Texas with unspecified numbers of AN-124-100 (various versions) and Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD aircraft for charter service. The Irkut MC-21-200 Freighter is the newest addition on order to the Volga-Dnepr fleet.

[Asteroza]

Flexport CEO on AN-124 future unavailability


https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1497656877731094528


Flexport is apparently actively tracking down the disposition of AN-124's globally, the CEO is posting updates on twitter

[Hobbes-22]

For satellites, the Airbus Belugas could be an alternative. Airbus already offers them for charter flights.

For transport to Kourou, another alternative would be to transport the satellites on the Maritime Nantaise ships (Toucan and Colibri).

[Jim]

For transport to Kourou, another alternative would be to transport the satellites on the Maritime Nantaise ships (Toucan and Colibri).

Might not be qualified for marine environment or ship dynamics.  How will US satellites get to Kourou?

[StormtrooperJoe]

Haven't they used C-5's for this in the past?

[woods170]

Haven't they used C-5's for this in the past?

Commercial versus military contracting. You don't just "hire" a C-5 to get your stuff to Kourou, because they are all in military service. Unlike an Antonov 124.

[russianhalo117]

Haven't they used C-5's for this in the past?

Commercial versus military contracting. You don't just "hire" a C-5 to get your stuff to Kourou, because they are all in military service. Unlike an Antonov 124.

The successive civilian versions of the C-5 family are the L-500 and L-500M. No ordered were received despite a warm reception of the prototype resulting in it being outfitted as planned for USAF. No retired aircraft have been purchased back for conversion to the civilian model and upgraded to the M version.

[Barley]

Haven't they used C-5's for this in the past?

Commercial versus military contracting. You don't just "hire" a C-5 to get your stuff to Kourou, because they are all in military service. Unlike an Antonov 124.

True. OTOH the US government might assist to help maintain sanctions.

[russianhalo117]

For satellites, the Airbus Belugas could be an alternative. Airbus already offers them for charter flights.

For transport to Kourou, another alternative would be to transport the satellites on the Maritime Nantaise ships (Toucan and Colibri).

They are mainly used Airbus aircraft production. Charters have to work around that. The A340 version of Beluga however has higher availability since they have been superseded by the A330 version. An A350 version is being considered.

[libra]

Airbus has just retired the A300 generation Beluga - five aircraft - to replace them with A330 Beluga XL. Yet the five Belugas still had potential, so they have created an oversized cargo company with the retired aircraft: "Airbus Beluga Transport".

[russianhalo117]

Airbus has just retired the A300 generation Beluga - five aircraft - to replace them with A330 Beluga XL. Yet the five Belugas still had potential, so they have created an oversized cargo company with the retired aircraft: "Airbus Beluga Transport".

Yep.

[GWR64]

What are the dispositions of the Russian and Ukrainian An-124's?  These superheavy airlift craft are often used to ship large and heavy satellites on transcontinental and transoceanic flights.

The use of a Volga-Dneiper An-124 required a waiver in the United States (as part of the 2014 sanctions?).

Is use of the Russian craft now forbidden?

Will there be spacecraft delivery delays as a result?

(Example: Upcoming delivery of the MEASAT and GSAT geocomm satellites to Kourou for launch in late April)

Antonov Airlines AN-124's not in the country at the time (The since destroyed AN-225 was scheduled to fly to an unannounced airfield per a later cancelled prefiled flight plan with EUROCONTROL):
UR-82029/UR-82072/UR-82073/UR-82007/UR-82008/UR-82027

The UAE has one they bought a long time ago along with an IL-76TD which are in active service and can transport spacecraft.

https://www.maximus-air.com/

Note that Volga-Dnepr has a US subsidiary in Houston, Texas with unspecified numbers of AN-124-100 (various versions) and Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD aircraft for charter service. The Irkut MC-21-200 Freighter is the newest addition on order to the Volga-Dnepr fleet.

According to my research a few days ago AN-124 UR-82073 and UR-82009 remained in Ukraine and
now probably in Russian hands. The AN-225 UR-82060 destroyed.
The other 5 Antonov Airlines AN-124s are scattered around the world and can't go home.
They may still be able to operate from Leipzig/Halle for a while, but for how long?
That should also be difficult for the crews.
The Maximus Air Cargo AN-124 also normally operates from Ukraine, but is now probably in UAE.
Then there is only the Russian Volga Dnepr Airline AN-124s for the commercial transport of large satellites,
for which the European airspace is now closed.
However, sensitive transports such as CERES and Syracuse 4A were carried out by Antonov Airlines.

[Asteroza]

Airbus has just retired the A300 generation Beluga - five aircraft - to replace them with A330 Beluga XL. Yet the five Belugas still had potential, so they have created an oversized cargo company with the retired aircraft: "Airbus Beluga Transport".

Well, I'm sure the salesman for that group must be receiving a lot of calls right now...

[Vahe231991]

Haven't they used C-5's for this in the past?

Commercial versus military contracting. You don't just "hire" a C-5 to get your stuff to Kourou, because they are all in military service. Unlike an Antonov 124.

The successive civilian versions of the C-5 family are the L-500 and L-500M. No ordered were received despite a warm reception of the prototype resulting in it being outfitted as planned for USAF. No retired aircraft have been purchased back for conversion to the civilian model and upgraded to the M version.

It's possible that a number of C-5s at the Davis-Monthan boneyard could be converted by Lockheed Martin into twin-fuselage airlifters that could be used by the USAF to ferry LM-built components for Vulcan rockets optimized for military launches to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be attached to Boeing-built components of the Vulcan ferried to the VAB by potential NASA-operated Boeing 747 freighters.

[darkenfast]

These aren't plastic models that you can hacksaw and glue together. ULA has a perfectly good ship for moving Vulcan at a fraction of the cost.

If there is a REAL-WORLD NEED (as in identified by the professionals who do this), for something bigger than the C-5, then someone will build it. A twin-fuselage C-5 would still only have the same cargo hold dimensions and weigh capacities as the current one, just times two. It would take years of development and cost a huge amount of money to solve all the real problems such a fantasy would create, and all for a tiny niche market.

Lockheed Martin doesn't own the military aircraft at the bone yard, and they have mostly been stripped of parts.

[mkent]

It's possible that a number of C-5s at the Davis-Monthan boneyard could be converted by Lockheed Martin into twin-fuselage airlifters that could be used by the USAF to ferry LM-built components for Vulcan rockets optimized for military launches to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be attached to Boeing-built components of the Vulcan ferried to the VAB by potential NASA-operated Boeing 747 freighters.

There are no twin-fuselage C-5s, Lockheed Martin doesn't build any sizable components of the Vulcan, Boeing doesn't build any sizable components of the Vulcan, the Vulcan isn't assembled at the VAB, and NASA doesn't operate any Boeing 747 freighters.

Other than that, a great plan.   

[Jim]

It's possible that a number of C-5s at the Davis-Monthan boneyard could be converted by Lockheed Martin into twin-fuselage airlifters that could be used by the USAF to ferry LM-built components for Vulcan rockets optimized for military launches to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be attached to Boeing-built components of the Vulcan ferried to the VAB by potential NASA-operated Boeing 747 freighters.

ULA builds all the components of Vulcan.  Boeing and LM have no role in the design and development of Vulcan; and no role in the production and launch of Delta, Atlas and Vulcan.  They only own ULA.