newstodate.aero
Sep 19, 2016 (newstodate): NATO has put the SALIS contract for heavy airlift on a tender, with the winner to take responsibility from the start of 2017.
The contract between NATO member countries in the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution, SALIS, and Ruslan company was set up in February, 2006, providing for the stationing of two AN-124 aircraft at Leipzig Halle Airport, while another four AN-124 aircraft allocated upon request as needed by the NATO and EU members of SALIS.
With the expiry of the current three-year SALIS contract by the end of December 2016, the tender process is this time complicated by the split between the two partners behind the Ruslan company, Ukraine's Antonov and Russia's Volga-Dnepr Group because of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
At the same time, NATO's needs for heavy uplift is reduced, compared to earlier years, due to the stop of the engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As a result of the abrogation of the Ruslan cooperation, the two parties are now expected to bid individually.
Before Ruslan was established, NATO member countries had to charter freighter aircraft capacity individually through aircraft broker companies.
The contract between NATO member countries in the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution, SALIS, and Ruslan company was set up in February, 2006, providing for the stationing of two AN-124 aircraft at Leipzig Halle Airport, while another four AN-124 aircraft allocated upon request as needed by the NATO and EU members of SALIS.
With the expiry of the current three-year SALIS contract by the end of December 2016, the tender process is this time complicated by the split between the two partners behind the Ruslan company, Ukraine's Antonov and Russia's Volga-Dnepr Group because of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
At the same time, NATO's needs for heavy uplift is reduced, compared to earlier years, due to the stop of the engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As a result of the abrogation of the Ruslan cooperation, the two parties are now expected to bid individually.
Before Ruslan was established, NATO member countries had to charter freighter aircraft capacity individually through aircraft broker companies.