Ruslan International ' the company which markets and manages the combined Antonov An-124 fleets of its shareholders Antonov Airlines and Volga Dnepr Airlines ' has completed a program of 15 flights using the giant An-124 freighter aircraft, for the Japanese peace keeping contingent of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

The flights ' each covering 13,000 km from Narita and Chitose in Japan to Entebbe, Uganda ' carried non-combat vehicles, containerized freight, power generators, communication equipment and other supplies for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF).

On arrival in Uganda, the cargo was transferred to the JGSDF in southern Sudan using a combination of smaller aircraft and road transport.

Says Michael Goodisman, Business Development Manager of Ruslan International: 'The whole program went off without any problems. We were very pleased to have the opportunity to play a significant role in this important peacekeeping mission.

'The An-124 once again came into its own because of the variety and bulk of many of the items being moved. The large fleet at our disposal also enabled us to provide the assurance of performance that is demanded in large scale missions such as this.'