Antonov signs five-year contract with NATO, EU for use of company’s aircraft

Ukraine's Antonov Company has signed a contract under the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) initiative, which gives NATO and EU countries the right to use the company's aircraft for emergency delivery of cargo in crisis situations for the next five years.

The head of the company's commercial department, Andriy Blahovisny, said this during a press conference at Ukrinform on Friday, November 12.

"Under the five-year contract, Antonov must provide two An-124-100 aircraft on a permanent basis. They must be in stand-by mode at Germany's Leipzig Airport. Upon additional request, Antonov must provide three more planes," he said.

He added that under the SALIS program, NATO and EU countries may also use aircraft Mriya, Antei, An-26, and An-74.

According to Blahovisny, SALIS members are nine countries: Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Hungary, and France.

The previous contract under the SALIS program was signed in 2019 for three years. It expires on December 31, 2021. The new contract was signed in September 2021.