Antonov Airlines, one of the world’s leading operators of heavy-duty An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft with a cargo capacity of 150 tonnes, will provide transportation of missile components from Los Angeles to the spaceport at Cape Canaveral (the United States) in the interests of the U.S. SpaceX.
According to the application of the Ukrainian operator, posted on the website of Daily Airlines Filings of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), a cargo flight, within which part of the nose fairing of the carrier rocket with a total bulk of 28.1 tonnes will be delivered to the launch site, is scheduled for January 11-13.
According to the application, the provision of cargo transportation is “critically important” for SpaceX and its customers, taking into account the company’s starting mission plans.
Antonov Airlines is the air transportation division of Antonov state enterprise, the leading Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of aircraft equipment, which has been part of Ukroboronprom state concern since 2016.
