Overview
Why this aircraft matters
The type first flew in 1982 and entered service in the mid-1980s. Antonov later developed civil An-124-100 variants for outsized commercial freight.
Size and design
A double-deck fuselage separates the crew area from the main cargo hold. Nose and rear doors allow vehicles to pass through, while the landing gear can lower the forward fuselage.
At 69.1 metres long and 73.3 metres across, the An-124 Ruslan occupies a very different physical envelope from an everyday single-aisle airliner. Dimensions alone do not tell the entire story: payload, cabin volume and intended role determine how that space is used.
Operators and current status
Antonov Airlines, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Russian Aerospace Forces.
In commercial and military service. Operator lists can change; they are reviewed against first-party material and are not a live fleet-tracking service.
Notable records
- Largest production transport aircraft when introduced
- Modified commercial examples certified for up to 150 tonnes payload
Source notes
Antonov quotes a 15,700-kilometre operational range without specifying the payload condition on its history page. Payload varies by sub-variant from 120 to 150 tonnes.
Last verified: 9 September 2026. Values may differ by variant, operating condition and source definition.