China looking to buy heavy lift transports

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – SEPTEMBER 29, 2004

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China approaches Ukraine for heavylift aircraft
ROBERT SAE-LIU JDW Special Correspondent
Beijing

China has launched preliminary talks with Ukraine on the potential acquisition of heavy transport aircraft to address long-standing strategic lift requirements for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to sources in Beijing.

Discussion centres on the Antonov An-124 and An-225 Mriya (Dream) outsized freighters. The former is the world’s largest production aircraft and can carry a payload of at least 120 tonnes. The latter is even bigger, with a payload capacity in excess of 250 tonnes, and Ukraine announced three years ago that it had resumed work on a second prototype.

Both aircraft are normally used as commercial transports.

In military configuration, the An-124 can carry 448 troops or 268 paratroops. Alternatively, it can accommodate 16 pallets of cargo for airdrops, each weighing up to 4.5 tonnes.

The Il-76 medium transport aircraft, which the PLA currently uses in limited numbers, can transport 140 troops or 125 paratroops.

Beijing has proposed to Kiev a licence-production agreement under which selected aircraft would be manufactured in China, suggesting a large-scale requirement.

Sources say that Russia has countered China’s interest in the Ukrainian heavy airlifters by proposing joint development of a new aircraft. Such a programme should take 10 to 15 years to complete, they add.

Analysts have been watching for the PLA to develop its tactical and strategic lift capabilities in order to better deploy Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) units, but such efforts so far have been limited in scope. RRF units are thought to account for around 15% of PLA strength, which is currently estimated to be between 2.3 million and 2.6 million.

An initiative aimed at addressing the PLA’s strategic lift requirements could indicate one of the priorities in Beijing’s next five-year force development plan, covering the period 2006 to 2010.
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And then you have this article mentioning the reopening of the An-124 line. Two and two equals four?

Return of the AN-124-100