KIEV, Dec. 24 – NATO has extended the contract for the lease of the Ukrainian-Russian An-124-100 Ruslan heavy transport aircraft until December 31, 2014.

President and Chief Designer of the Antonov State Enterprise Dmytro Kiva told journalists in Kiev on Monday that a relevant contract was signed by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) and the Russian-Ukrainian Ruslan SALIS joint venture.

Under the contract, four An-124-100 aircraft are provided to the customer on demand, two more aircraft are permanently based at the Ruslan SALIS base airport in Leipzig, Germany.