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Antonov An-124 Ruslan

Antonov · Widebody / Heavy / Commercial Aviation · Ukraine · Cold War (1970–1991)

Antonov An-124 Ruslan — Widebody / Heavy / Commercial Aviation
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The Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO reporting name Condor) is a four-engine heavy-lift aircraft developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union and first flown on 24 December 1982. 55 airframes were built between 1982 and 2014 at the Antonov plant in Kyiv and at Aviastar-SP in Ulyanovsk, Russia. The An-124 is the world's heaviest production aircraft (after the one-off An-225 Mriya) and the only fully production-line outsize-cargo airframe in commercial service worldwide. Maximum payload is 150 tonnes — about 60% more than the U.S. C-5 Galaxy.

The An-124 was Antonov's response to the Soviet Air Force's demand for a heavy-lift aircraft that could match or exceed the C-5 Galaxy. Power comes from four Lotarev (now Ivchenko-Progress) D-18T turbofans (51,600 lbf each, 230 kN), mounted on a high wing with anhedral and double-slotted flaps. Maximum takeoff weight is 405 t (893,000 lb), with a hold 36 m long × 6.4 m wide × 4.4 m tall. The hold has a fully roll-on/roll-off configuration with both nose-up cargo loading (the entire forward fuselage tilts upward like a clamshell) and a tail ramp. The aircraft can kneel — lower its nose to touch the ramp to a truck bed — through retractable nose-gear arms.

The An-124 entered Soviet service in 1986 and a commercial cargo charter market opened up immediately after the USSR's collapse. From the 1990s through the 2010s, Antonov Airlines (Ukraine) and Volga-Dnepr Airlines (Russia) flew the An-124 fleet on outsize-cargo charters globally, hauling power-station rotors, oil-and-gas pressure vessels, locomotives, mining-truck dumpers, and humanitarian-relief loads no other aircraft could carry. The An-124's combination of jet speed (cruise Mach 0.78), 5,400 km range with maximum payload, and unique outsize cargo bay made it indispensable to the global heavy-lift charter market.

The Russian-Ukrainian schism since 2014 has split the fleet between Antonov Airlines (still based at Hostomel, Ukraine, with about 7 active aircraft as of 2026) and Volga-Dnepr (Russia, about 12 active). New-build An-124 production at Aviastar-SP halted in 2004; total fleet attrition has been moderate (~6 hull losses since 1992). Russian sanctions regimes since 2022 have grounded much of the Volga-Dnepr fleet for spare-parts shortages. Antonov has stated that resumed An-124 production in Ukraine is a long-term goal but is contingent on post-war reconstruction of the Hostomel facility.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Antonov An-124 Ruslan is one of the world's biggest cargo planes — and the largest still being built today. It's smaller only than the lost An-225 Mriya (which was destroyed in February 2022). The An-124 was designed in the 1980s in the Soviet Union and is still flying today.

The An-124 is about 226 feet long. Four big jet engines hang under its high wings. It can carry up to 150 tons of cargo — enough for tanks, helicopters, locomotives, or even small airplanes. The cargo bay is 118 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 14 feet tall — much bigger than the American C-5 Galaxy.

Like the bigger An-225, the An-124's nose opens up like a giant mouth. The whole nose lifts up so vehicles can drive straight in or out. The back ramp also opens. With both ends open, big cargo can drive through. The An-124's 24 wheels spread its weight on the runway so it doesn't sink into dirt or short pavement.

About 56 An-124s were built between 1982 and 2014. They serve the Russian Air Force, the Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines, and the Russian airline Volga-Dnepr. Western companies hire An-124s for big cargo that no other airplane can carry — like generators, locomotives, oil-drilling equipment, or even other airplanes' parts. The 2022 Russia-Ukraine war complicated this — some An-124s are stuck in Russian Crimea and others in Ukraine, with sanctions making operations difficult.

Fun Facts

  • The An-124 Ruslan is the world's second-biggest cargo plane — only the An-225 Mriya was bigger.
  • About 56 An-124s were built between 1982 and 2014.
  • Each An-124 can carry up to 150 tons of cargo — about as much as a passenger jet weighs empty.
  • The cargo bay is 118 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 14 feet tall — bigger than the American C-5 Galaxy.
  • The An-124's nose opens up like a giant mouth — vehicles can drive in or out.
  • The An-124 has 24 wheels to spread its weight on the runway.
  • Western companies hire An-124s for cargo no other airplane can carry — generators, locomotives, even other airplanes' parts.

Kids’ Questions

Why is the An-124 still flying when the An-225 is destroyed?

The An-225 was a one-of-a-kind airplane — only one was ever built. When it was destroyed at Hostomel airport in February 2022 during fighting near Kyiv, it was lost forever. Ukraine's Antonov company has said it wants to finish building a second An-225 someday, but the cost (over $3 billion) and the ongoing war have made that very difficult. The An-124 is in a much better position — 56 were built, and most are still flying. Even if a few are lost or grounded by the war, dozens of An-124s remain available worldwide for big cargo missions. The An-124 will probably keep flying until at least 2050.

Why is the An-124 so important for big cargo?

Most cargo airplanes can't carry very big or odd-shaped loads — a giant generator, a 100-foot wind-turbine blade, or a tank. These items might be too long, too wide, or too heavy for normal cargo airplanes. The An-124 (and the lost An-225) are the only airplanes big enough to fly such cargo by air. The alternative is shipping by sea (slow) or building special trucks (also slow + needs road access). For urgent oversize cargo — like delivering relief supplies after disasters, or moving a factory's machinery to a new country — there's no replacement. Companies pay $50,000-150,000 per hour to charter an An-124.

Variants

An-124-100
Civil-certified production variant. 36 built. Operated commercially by Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Airlines. 150 t payload, 5,400 km range fully loaded.
An-124-100M-150
Upgraded civil variant with upgraded avionics and 150 t certified payload. Some An-124-100s were upgraded to this standard during overhauls.
An-124-200
Russian-built refresh by Aviastar-SP, 1990s-2000s. Improved navigation systems and Western avionics for international commercial operation.
An-124-300 (proposed)
Proposed re-engined / re-equipped variant with Aviadvigatel PD-35 turbofans (planned 35-tonne thrust class). No production examples; programme paused after 2022.

Notable Operators

Antonov Airlines
Ukrainian commercial heavy-lift operator based at Hostomel Airport, Kyiv. Roughly 7 active An-124s as of 2026; carries oversized cargo on charter contracts globally. Also operated the destroyed An-225 Mriya.
Volga-Dnepr Airlines
Russian commercial heavy-lift operator, headquartered in Ulyanovsk. Pre-2022 fleet of 12 An-124-100s; many grounded since 2022 by sanctions regime spare-parts restrictions.
Russian Aerospace Forces
Military operator. Roughly 22 An-124-100 airframes in the heavy-lift role from the 1980s, with a planned modernisation programme for the late 2020s.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the Antonov An-124?

Length 69 m (226 ft), wingspan 73.3 m (240 ft), maximum takeoff weight 405 t (893,000 lb), maximum payload 150 t (330,000 lb). The cargo hold is 36 m × 6.4 m × 4.4 m — about 1,000 m³ of usable volume. Comparable to a C-5 Galaxy but with about 60% more payload capacity.

What is the difference between the An-124 and the An-225?

The An-225 Mriya was a one-off six-engine derivative of the An-124, with two extra engines, a stretched fuselage, larger wing, and twin-tail empennage. The An-225 had 250-t payload (vs. An-124's 150 t) and was built specifically as a Soviet Buran shuttle carrier. Only one An-225 was completed; it was destroyed in February 2022.

Is the Antonov An-124 still in production?

No — production halted in 2004 at Aviastar-SP (Russia) and earlier at Antonov (Ukraine). 55 total airframes were built. Antonov has periodically discussed restarting production with PD-35-engined upgrades, but no firm programme exists as of 2026.

How many An-124s have been lost?

Approximately six hull losses since 1992, including high-profile crashes in Iran (1992), Turin (1996), and Novosibirsk (2020). Most were attributable to engine failure or weather; the type's overall safety record is consistent with other heavy-jet outsize-cargo aircraft.

What can the An-124 carry that other aircraft can't?

Outsize loads up to 6.4 m wide and 4.4 m tall — power-station rotors, locomotives, mining-truck dumpers, oil-and-gas pressure vessels, full-size oil drilling equipment, helicopter ferry loads. The C-5 Galaxy has a slightly smaller hold (5.79 m × 4.11 m); only the An-225 Mriya was bigger, and it is destroyed.

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See Also