Russia to develop super-heavy transport aircraft to replace An-124

MOSCOW, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia's United Aircraft Corporation will design a super-heavy transport aircraft this year to replace the An-124 "Ruslan," local media reported Tuesday.

The company will first conduct a feasibility study for the new plane to be approved by the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, Sputnik news agency quoted the corporation's annual report as saying.

The first "Ruslan" An-124, with a take-off weight of 400 tons and a maximum load of 150 tons, was designed by the Soviet group Antonov and made its debut flight in 1982.?