Ukraine has once again confirmed plans to rebuild the Antonov An-225 Mriya giant cargo aircraft, according to Ukraine’s news agency Ukrinform, which quoted David Lomdzharia, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom.
Lomdzharia reportedly made the statement on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, which is taking place in Washington DC between July 9-11, 2024. The Ukrainian official refused to provide any additional details about the project or its expected timeframe.
The only flyable An-225 was entirely destroyed during the combats for Hostomel Airport, near Kyiv, during the early stages of the Russian invasion.
Another half-built airframe has been in storage since late Soviet times. However, its state of preservation remains unclear, and it is not known whether it would be feasible to bring it up to date with modern technology.
It is not the first time that the idea of rebuilding or producing the Mriya again has been floated by Ukrainian officials.
As early as November 2022, CNN reported on the alleged plans to rebuild what used to be the world’s largest aircraft. However, technical challenges aside, it has been estimated that the project would require an investment in the order of hundreds of millions to billions of US dollars.
8 comments
As an Aviation personal, I think everyone, all over the world should contribute (financially,technically ) and jointly put an effort to rebuild this iconic airplane.
It’s a very neat and useful aircraft, and a shame it was destroyed. I’d say that unless the rebuild is absolutely necessary for carrying equipment or cargo, maybe holding off would be a good idea. There are a lot of people whose lives need rebuilding first, and countless damage has been done to Ukrainian infrastructure. That all needs to take priority over a cargo plane. But I would love to see it flying again someday.
There are enough pilots, mechanics and aviation enthusiasts willing to contribute time, expertise and money to rebuild Mryia. We just need and organization/consortium to provide the area and facilities.
Let us start today
It’s truly inspiring to see the commitment to rebuild the An-225 Mriya! This iconic aircraft holds so much significance, not just in aviation history but also for Ukraine’s resilience. I can’t wait to see it soar again!
It’s amazing to hear that plans to rebuild the An-225 Mriya are still alive! This iconic aircraft holds so much significance, and its return would be a huge boost for Ukraine and aviation enthusiasts around the world. Looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds!
This is incredible news! The An-225 Mriya is not just a plane; it’s a symbol of Ukrainian ingenuity and resilience. I can’t wait to see it take to the skies again! Let’s hope for a speedy and successful reconstruction.
It’s amazing to hear that the plans to rebuild the An-225 Mriya are still in motion! This iconic aircraft holds so much history and significance. I can’t wait to see it soaring in the skies once again, representing resilience and innovation. Let’s hope the project gets the support it needs!
This is such exciting news! The An-225 Mriya is a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and engineering prowess. I can’t wait to see her soaring in the skies again! Let’s hope the plans come to fruition soon.