China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

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China and Ukraine agree to restart An-225 production
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
31 August 2016



China and Ukraine have signed an agreement to recommence production of the Antonov An-225 'Cossack' strategic airlifter, media from both countries have reported.

The agreement signed between the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Antonov on 30 August gives China access to the aircraft's designs and technologies for the purposes of domestic production, according to China's STCN news organisation and the Ukrainian Business Channel (UBR).

Powered by six Progress D-18T engines and having demonstrated a world-record payload of 253.82 tonnes, the An-225 (named Mriya in Ukraine) is the largest transport aircraft ever to have flown. Having been originally built to carry the Soviet Buran orbiter, the aircraft made its maiden flight in 1988. Only one aircraft was ever finished to an airworthy standard and flown, and while work on a second example was begun it had become clear by mid-2001 that funding would no longer be provided and the project was shelved. The sole aircraft to be completed is now chartered by Antonov Airlines to fly outsized cargo throughout the world.

According to the reports, China now plans to fly the first of an unspecified number of An-225s in 2019.

superdog said:

This company has "fishy" written all over it.

There is a chance that this company is a front for AVIC and AVIC is buying the tech, but somehow doesn't want to make a deal directly. Even if this is the case, I doubt AVIC can (or would want to) build another An-225 domestically by 2019, perhaps they only want the tech for reference. They may give money to the Ukranians and have them assemble one using their existing parts, that's how you can get another An-225 flying ASAP.

There is also a bigger chance that the whole thing is a fraud. Either the entire meeting and the photo were staged, or that Antonov was involved but the contract was nowhere close to what the news claimed (e.g. non-binding agreement). Companies do this to create an excuse to secure lands for development.

There is zero chance that a small private company with no experience in aircraft manufacturing will be able to build an An-225 by 2019. If they really thought they could do that, it'd still be an extremely stupid business decision. The manufacturing investments would be gigantic, yet the An-225 is not something you can sell in numbers.

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I don't think it is a fraud. The meeting and photo seems legitimate. Here is why I think so.
Antonov management team

President, Oleksandr A.Kotsiuba

China Air Space news


Oleksandr A.Kotsiuba in the middle

Unless someone can tell the photo is doctored otherwise.

Regarding the real production line, I don't see it a problem really. Antonov has a full production line, what is so difficult to move that line to China? D-18T is owned by Ivchenko of Ukraine just like An-225 itself and factory in Ukraine has a working production line. Also the production line will be inside China (AVIC/XAC?). Remember how fast Geely started a new Volvo production line in China after acquiring Volvo? It is not like starting from scratch, but more of a restart of a working car after well preserved for years.

I am inclined to agree with you that "China Air Space" is sort of front company in this possible deal though. If so, then it is even more likely that the China production site is likely.

As to the purpose of it. Cargo transportation of course. "China Air Space" does say their vision is "logistic" / 物流. For that business, An-225 is probably the best for commercial cargo, after all in this kind of business, the bigger the better, like ocean going manmathes.

Insignius said:

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China and Ukraine agree to restart An-225 production
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
31 August 2016

China and Ukraine have signed an agreement to recommence production of the Antonov An-225 'Cossack' strategic airlifter, media from both countries have reported.

The agreement signed between the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Antonov on 30 August gives China access to the aircraft's designs and technologies for the purposes of domestic production, according to China's STCN news organisation and the Ukrainian Business Channel (UBR).

Powered by six Progress D-18T engines and having demonstrated a world-record payload of 253.82 tonnes, the An-225 (named Mriya in Ukraine) is the largest transport aircraft ever to have flown. Having been originally built to carry the Soviet Buran orbiter, the aircraft made its maiden flight in 1988. Only one aircraft was ever finished to an airworthy standard and flown, and while work on a second example was begun it had become clear by mid-2001 that funding would no longer be provided and the project was shelved. The sole aircraft to be completed is now chartered by Antonov Airlines to fly outsized cargo throughout the world.

According to the reports, China now plans to fly the first of an unspecified number of An-225s in 2019.

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AVIC walks out to the spot light.

Now what, eh?

SinoSoldier said:

Henri K.'s blog reports that two production facilities will be planned: one in Luzhou and another in Guigang.

Don't know if these two plants will operate in support of one big assembly line or have separate assembly lines of their own.

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The two places do not have big aircraft assembly facilities now, nor major component productions as far as I know. Pretty unknown in China's aerospace industry. A surprise for me if "China Air Space" is really aiming at 2019 for first flight.

Insignius said:

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China and Ukraine agree to restart An-225 production
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
31 August 2016

The agreement signed between the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Antonov on 30 August gives China access to the aircraft's designs and technologies for the purposes of domestic production, according to China's STCN news organisation and the Ukrainian Business Channel (UBR).

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Is the author getting "China air space" (or rather full name "AICC") mixed up with the actual AVIC in this case?

taxiya said:

The two places do not have big aircraft assembly facilities now, nor major component productions as far as I know. Pretty unknown in China's aerospace industry. A surprise for me if "China Air Space" is really aiming at 2019 for first flight.

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According to some investigative work done by Henri K., the mayor of one of the cities of the production lines recently signed an agreement to build facilities that manufacture aircraft components and engines.

SinoSoldier said:

According to some investigative work done by Henri K., the mayor of one of the cities of the production lines recently signed an agreement to build facilities that manufacture aircraft components and engines.

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I read that report too. The highest official was the vice provincial governor of Sichuan Liu Jie (the person in suit in the middle on the right side of the man in white shirt), where one of the proposed site Luzhou is located. In the photo of the agreement signing ceremony between the city and China Air Space for the plant, the banner said aircraft production base. It was presided by the vice governor who is responsible for industry and technology among other tasks.

The news from this link also said that Liu Jie was present in the signing ceremony of the An-225 agreement with Ukraine. For a provincial governor to be present is hardly something for dodge commercial plot. It is pretty serious and real.

协议签署前，刘捷、蒋辅义、刘强、陈雁、喻双会见了张友生团队，双方就各自优势、合作意向、市场定位以及发展预期目标等方面进行沟通和对接。上述领导还出席并见证了中国空域产业集团与乌克兰安东诺夫公司“A-225”飞机项目落地中国的签约仪式。

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So yes, I think it is pretty sure of the site.

Insignius said:

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China and Ukraine agree to restart An-225 production
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
31 August 2016

According to the reports, China now plans to fly the first of an unspecified number of An-225s in 2019.

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Hmmm...how long before we see something like this?

Jeff Head said:

Hmmm...how long before we see something like this?

View attachment 31455

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Nice one Jeff!