Defense Minister: Russia must double An-124-100 jet output by 2025

MOSCOW, Oct 11 (PRIME) -- Russia must double production of the An-124-100 jets by 2025, because engines have become available, and an upgrade is possible, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the executives of United Aircraft Corporation on Wednesday.

"Besides, we must make decisions today and consider all issues about heavy transport aircraft An-124. We must double their number by 2025 because we now have engines, have the possibility and capacities to upgrade the aircraft, we must double them by 2025," Shoigu said.

A solution how to replace light transport aircraft An-26 and An-72 was found, and the government is yet to set the deadline for implementation, the official said without elaborating.

Loading of the military transport aviation has recently exceeded that of the Soviet times by almost two times, and the jet numbers in the fleet must grow as the Il-76MD-90A aircraft is launched, the latest version in the series, he said.

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