Table of Contents
Overview
The Antonov An-225 Mriya, often recognized as the largest military plane ever built, was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed and produced by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was originally developed during the 1980s as an enlarged derivative of the Antonov An-124 airlifter for the express purpose of transporting Buran-class orbiters.
Design and Development
Work on the Antonov An-225 began in 1984 in response to a request from the Soviet government for a large airlifter to replace the Myasishchev VM-T. The specifics of this request included the ability to carry a maximum payload of 231,838 kilograms (511,116 lb), both externally and internally, while operating from any runway of at least 3,500 meters (11,500 ft). The objectives were broadly identical to that of the United States' Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, having been designed to airlift the Energia rocket's boosters and the Buran-class orbiters for the Soviet space program.
The aircraft was designed to be an enlarged derivative of the Antonov An-124 Ruslan airlifter, which had a payload capacity almost half of what was required. The aircraft was stretched by adding fore and aft fuselage barrel sections, and a new enlarged wing centre was designed that facilitated the carriage of an additional pair of Progress D-18T turbofan engines, increasing the total from four to six powerplants.
Operational History
The An-225 performed its maiden flight on 21 December 1988, and only one aircraft was ever completed. After a brief period of use supporting the Soviet space program, the aircraft was mothballed during the early 1990s. Towards the turn of the century, it was decided to refurbish the An-225 and reintroduce it for commercial operations, carrying oversized payloads for Antonov Airlines. It held several records, including being the heaviest aircraft ever built and having the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service.
However, the only completed An-225 was destroyed in the Battle of Antonov Airport during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In response, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to complete the second An-225 to replace the destroyed aircraft, and Antonov announced plans to rebuild the destroyed aircraft in November 2022.
Second Airframe
The second An-225 was partially built during the late 1980s for the Soviet space program, but work on the airframe was suspended following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In September 2006, due to a perceived need for additional An-225 capacity, it was decided that the second An-225 would be completed. However, the work was subject to repeated delays.
