Ukrainian aerospace firm Antonov has flown a modified An-124-100 out of Kyiv, following a long-term modernisation to replace Russian-built on-board equipment.

The aircraft (UR-82073) flew to Leipzig on 11 July following a programme initiated in 2021 but held up by the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

Ukraine and Russia had previously co-operated in the aerospace sector – the An-124 had assembly lines in Kyiv and Ulyanovsk, and was flown by both Ukrainian and Russian operators – but the partnership severed as political tensions between the neighbours rose.

Russia’s government has adopted a policy of import substitution, replacing foreign equipment in new aircraft with domestically-built equivalents.

The An-124 airframe modernised in Kyiv has undergone a similar reverse process, says Antonov, with primary components which were manufactured in Russia replaced with Western and Ukrainian counterparts under a “complex, multi-year project”.

Work on the aircraft was partly suspended following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Antonov’s main facility at Gostomel, near the Ukrainian capital, came under attack with a number of Antonov Airlines aircraft badly damaged – including the sole example of the An-225, which was destroyed.

“At that time the [An-124] was in a disassembled state,” says Antonov. “However, even in the most difficult conditions of the war, the [Antonov team] was able to resume work.”

It states that the modernisation was completed in June this year. The aircraft flew from Kyiv to Leipzig under the flight number ADB9154.

Originally built in 1994 it has accumulated over 21,000h in more than 5,500 cycles.

“Relocation of [the An-124] became not just a technical solution, but a symbol of the stability, professionalism and unity of Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers,” says Antonov, adding that it will operate for Ukraine on international routes.