Service for Ruslan aircraft under NATO protection: hangar for Ukrainian aircraft to be built in Leipzig
28 August 18:14
The Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov has announced the construction of a new service hangar for An-124 Ruslan heavy transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport (Germany). This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to a post on the Leipzig/Halle Airport Facebook page.
The initiative is being implemented by Antonov Logistics’ subsidiary Salis GmbH as part of its long-term cooperation with NATO and its member states.
According to official reports, the total area of the future service center will reach 24,000 square meters, and the construction is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
To service Ukraine’s An-124 Ruslan in Germany, Antonov is building new infrastructure in Leipzig: why it matters
With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine lost the ability to carry out full maintenance of Ruslan aircraft on its territory. The company’s key airfields, in particular in Gostomel, were damaged or destroyed as a result of the hostilities. As a result, Antonov Airlines temporarily moved all its activities to Leipzig, where it formed a new operating base.
The construction of its own hangar in Germany is a strategic decision to guarantee the continuity of fleet maintenance, including under international contracts.
Strengthening cooperation with NATO
Antonov Logistics Salis GmbH is a member of the SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) program, which uses AN-124 aircraft to carry out strategic cargo transportation on behalf of NATO. The continued availability of these aircraft and their technical serviceability is critical to the Alliance’s defense and humanitarian operations.
With the new facility in Leipzig, the company will be able to maintain and repair the AN-124 in-house, without outsourcing, which will significantly increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Read also: AN-124 Ruslan to undergo certification test in Leipzig
A symbol of sustainability of the Ukrainian aviation industry
The updated An-124-100 UR-82073, which was recently modernized in Ukraine, has already successfully flown to Germany. Despite the war, the company managed to implement a full-fledged upgrade of the aircraft in Kyiv, a fact that demonstrated the viability of the Ukrainian aircraft industry in times of war.
The main goal of the project was to completely abandon Russian components in favor of Ukrainian and Western counterparts. Despite the temporary suspension of work due to the full-scale invasion in 2022, the modernization was completed in June 2025. The aircraft, manufactured in 1994, had logged more than 21,000 hours and completed more than 5,500 flights before the upgrade. Thanks to the professionalism of Ukrainian aviation engineers, this unique cargo plane has returned to operational readiness.
on July 11, the upgraded AN-124 was successfully moved to Germany. The flight took place within the airspace closed to civil aviation. The Ruslan transporter, spotted in the sky over Kyiv during the transit, became the subject of media and expert community attention.
It is known that the aircraft is returning to international cargo transportation after modernization. Its updated technical characteristics allow for a higher level of energy efficiency, safety and reliability. In addition, the aircraft will now be serviced at a European base, which makes it easier to maintain airworthiness in conditions where access to Ukrainian production sites and airports is limited.
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The construction of the hangar in Germany is also a signal to the international community that Ukraine retains its technological potential and seeks to integrate its industry into global supply chains.
In the future, the new hub may become the basis for Antonov’s wider involvement in the European heavy aircraft maintenance market. Leipzig/Halle Airport is already the second largest airport in Germany after Frankfurt, and the development of partnership with it opens up new opportunities for both Antonov and Ukraine as a whole.
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