Ukraine, Russia to jointly produce large cargo plane

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to establish a joint venture to build Antonov An-124 cargo plane, the world's largest serially manufactured cargo airplane, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Boyko said Wednesday. "The An-124 is a unique aircraft that has a lot of potential in all areas of the global economy. We are confident that along with our Russian partners we will implement this project successfully," Boyko was quoted by local media as saying. Boyko stressed the importance of the joint venture, saying it will reduce rivalry between Ukraine and Russia in the global aircraft market. Ukraine will provide technological base for the project while Russia will fund the production and do marketing, he said. The An-124 is the world's largest serially manufactured cargo airplane that can carry up to 150 tons of freight. The aircraft was designed by the Kiev-based Antonov design bureau in the early 1980s.