Ukraine’s Secretive Rebirth: The Reconstruction of the AN-225 Aircraft
In a remarkable turn of events, Ukraine’s Antonov State Enterprise, a renowned aircraft manufacturing company based in Kyiv, has embarked on a clandestine mission to construct a second An-225 Mriya aircraft. This ambitious endeavor follows the tragic destruction of the world’s largest plane at the hands of Russian forces in March earlier this year.
The An-225 Mriya, an aircraft of global renown, stood as a colossal symbol of Ukraine’s aerospace capabilities, boasting an astonishing weight of 628,300 pounds and an awe-inspiring wingspan of 290 feet. Its prominence surged when Russian forces invaded Ukraine, marking a severe loss for the country’s aviation legacy. Nevertheless, there is now a glimmer of hope, as Antonov’s Acting General Director, Yevhen Havrylov, reveals plans for the resurrection of this aviation giant.
Havrylov, in an exclusive interview with the German newspaper Bild, disclosed that progress on the new Mriya is already well underway. He revealed, “Work on the new aircraft continues at a secret facility. The second AN-225, which was never completed, will be supplemented with parts from the bombed-out aircraft in addition to new parts.” The estimated cost of this formidable undertaking is staggering, with a price tag of €500,000,000.
The original Mriya An-225 met its demise as Russian troops retreated from Hostomel on March 31, specifically targeting the Hostomel airport, home to the Antonov aircraft company. Photographs and videos circulated online depicted the world’s largest plane in a state of disrepair, confined within a hangar, its structural integrity severely compromised.
Despite its 33-year-old age, the An-225 was a workhorse renowned for transporting vast quantities of heavy cargo over distances of up to 4,000 kilometers in just five hours. Additionally, it achieved fame by transporting the Soviet “Buran” space shuttle, rendering its destruction profoundly shocking both within Ukraine and across the globe.
As of now, no specific timeframe has been confirmed for the completion of this monumental reconstruction project. However, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s unwavering commitment to victory in the ongoing conflict and his refusal to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is a possibility that the new Mriya may take to the skies before the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
Amidst this remarkable endeavor, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated investigations into whether employees of Antonov State Enterprise collaborated with Russian agents, potentially contributing to the destruction of the original Mriya aircraft. In response to inquiries from Ukrinform, the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that criminal investigations were indeed underway to determine whether Antonov employees “provided assistance to a foreign state” or its representatives, leading to “subversive activities against Ukraine, which resulted in the destruction of the An-225 Mriya aircraft and other planes during the military aggression of the armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
This high-stakes case is currently under the scrutiny of Ukraine’s Main Investigative Department of the Security Service, further adding complexity to the unfolding narrative of Ukraine’s aviation industry and its quest to resurrect the colossal An-225 Mriya.
