Ex-Soviet aircraft may ferry Nato weaponry

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Times
By Carl Mortished, International Business Editor



NATO weaponry could soon be lifted into battle by a former Soviet aircraft if Volga-Dnepr, the Russian cargo transport firm, clinches a major contract with Nato’s Maintenance and Supply Agency.

Volga-Dnepr is the favoured bidder for the €700 million (£490 million) contract to provide heavy airlift to Nato at 72 hours’ notice. The Russian firm is offering the Antonov 124 “Ruslan”, a wide-bellied transporter designed and built during the Cold War to ferry Soviet tanks, missiles and troops into hostile terrain.

The Russians are competing with American aircraft such as the C17 Globemaster, but a spokesman for the German defence ministry indicated that Volga-Dnepr was the likely winner, beating the competition on capacity and cost.

“It seems we are the preferred bidder to provide supplemental lift for Nato forces,” Tony Bauckham, managing director of Volga-Dnepr UK, said. “The main requirement is for equipment transport, armoured vehicles, helicopters, radar units, anything associated with Nato responding to a crisis,” he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1521491,00.html