Institute shows off concept for An-124 successor

Russian aerodynamics researchers have unveiled a concept for a new heavy transport aircraft to succeed the Antonov An-124.

The aircraft has been tentatively designated 'Slon' – the Russian term for 'elephant' – and is outwardly similar to the An-124 in appearance, with a high-wing, four-engined layout, nose-loading capability and a low horizontal stabiliser.

Moscow's Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) states that the aircraft would able to transport 150t of freight over a range of up to 3,780nm (7,000km), operating off a 3,000m (9,840ft) runway.

But it would be able to handle a maximum commercial load of 180t – with which it could operate over a distance of 2,645nm.

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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-institute-shows-off-concept-for-an-124-succ-439871/

I was sort of expecting a BWB or a “speed agile” version of it (for STOL performance). I would guess whenever they decide to finally retire the C-5, a BWB or hybrid wing-body layout will be one of the baseline study options.

Any idea as to who will build the AN-124 successor? I can't see Tupolev building it as they are too busy with the PAK-DA at present, so that would only leave Ilyushin.

Images taken by flateric.

Source:
http://transural.egloos.com/m/318673
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2742690.html

The dimensions (especially the 6,4m wide study) are far closer to the An-225 than the An-124, additionally supported by the use of 4 of the PD-35 engines in the 30-35 ton thrust bracket.
I assume production will be at Aviastar in Ulyanovsk, which also built An-124's.

At long last, is this an Ilyushin Il-108 (PAK TA, "Ermak") concept after all the Volga-Dnepr undergraduate design contest concepts?

No.

https://nplus1.ru/news/2019/01/26/elephant?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com

more recent wind-tunel model

Translation (via Google Translate) of the above webpage:

Specialists of the Zhukovsky Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute assembled an aerodynamic model of a promising heavy transport aircraft “Elephant”, which will be used for testing in a wind tunnel. According to the institute, the first purge test of the model is planned to be held in August-September 2019.

The “Elephant” project was first presented at the MAKS-2017 air show. It involves the development of a heavy transport aircraft, which in the future will make it possible to replace the aging Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan in the fleet of Russia, whose maintenance and repairs have become much more complicated and expensive because of political differences with Ukraine.

According to the project, the new aircraft is supposed to create a high-profile. Loading in the transport is supposed to be done through the nose. The aircraft will be able to transport cargo weighing up to 150 tons at a distance of up to 7 thousand kilometers. Cruising speed "Elephant" will be 850 kilometers per hour.

In the commercial version of the aircraft, created under the requirements of the carrier “Volga-Dnepr”, the carrying capacity will be 180 tons. The prospective aircraft will be four-engine; it will be equipped with new PD-35 turbofan engines with a take-off load of 343.2 kilonewtons.

The length of the "Elephant" will be 82.3 meters, height - 24 meters, and wingspan - from 87.1 to 88.3 meters, depending on the version. The maximum take-off weight of the prospective transport worker will be from 490 to 499 tons, and the empty mass - 214 or 222 tons.

For comparison, the An-124 has a length of 69.1 meters, a height of 21 meters and a wingspan of 73.3 meters. The aircraft is equipped with four engines D-18T takeoff load of 229.9 kilonewtons. The transporter is designed to carry up to 120 tons. Its flight range is up to 7.5 thousand kilometers at a speed of 850 kilometers per hour.

Purge tests of the Elephant aerodynamic model will be conducted in subsonic and transonic pipes. These tests will determine the main flight characteristics of the prospective aircraft, as well as obtain the data necessary to correct the aerodynamic characteristics of the transport.

In October last year, a purge test model of a heavy transport screening vehicle was held at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. Scientists investigated the aerodynamics of the model near the screen, simulating the earth's surface.

The EKR project assumes that the device will be able to carry out intercontinental flights with a range of at least six thousand kilometers. For the most part of the flight, the screening vehicle will be within the range of the screen effect at a height of three to 12 meters from the earth or water surface. Due to this, the device will spend less fuel.

Vasily Sychev

Will never go further than that.

Not to derail but was there ever any truth to China wanting to put the An-225 into production?

"Will never go further than that."

Why no?

PlanesPictures said:

"Will never go further than that."

Why no?

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Because UAC-TS/Ilyushin has this job. Slon is nothing more than part of one of TsAGI research project funded by Minpromtorg (not DoD) with colossal amount (drums) of $15M.
It's like talking about NASA Langley making heavy-weight transport project trying to present it like legit CX-HLS entry.

And - nice to see you again here, Josef!

flateric said:

Because UAC-TS/Ilyushin has this job. Slon is nothing more than part of one of TsAGI research project funded by Minpromtorg (not DoD) with colossal amount (drums) of $15M.

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Now i'm curious if Ilyushin have anything in the pipeline. For some reason i see they're quite chill regarding large transport development.

Hobbes said:

The EKR project assumes that the device will be able to carry out intercontinental flights with a range of at least six thousand kilometers. For the most part of the flight, the screening vehicle will be within the range of the screen effect at a height of three to 12 meters from the earth or water surface. Due to this, the device will spend less fuel.

Vasily Sychev

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That last bit, are they suggesting a WIG mode?

ouroboros said:

That last bit, are they suggesting a WIG mode?

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This indent is about other project

https://t.me/btvt2019/369

…….

So this is Ilyushin’s design, right ?

nope. Ilyushin design =/= TsAGI Slon, still both designed for the same purpose

This recent article sums up the current status of replacing the AN-124. It all depends on how development of the intended engine proceeds. Also, depending how badly Russia emerges from this war, they may simply not have the funds to develop such an expensive niche aircraft that will be built in limited numbers. According to a book on Antonov Airlines published before the war, the AN-124 fleet will be able to soldier on until the late 2030's. Don't be surprised if this project gets pushed into the next decade.

raptor82 said:

https://t.me/btvt2019/369

…….

So this is Ilyushin’s design, right ?

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Interesting & Funny ... would it be a Chinese design by XAC all over the internet it would be called again a blatant copy of a C-5 Galaxy