What Ukrainian cargo company has the money? Not to mention production of the An-124 is being restarted in Russia. It's called a joint product, but the truth is that Russia is the driving force behind it. I doubt that the second An-124 could be finished without major Russian involvement. Given that Russia plans on being the largest operator of the An-124, it might make some sense for either Volga-Dnepr, or the Russian MoD, to get an An-225. For Ukraine, however, it's expensive, and risky.
Thanks!
I've read that Venezuela received Tor-M1, S-300VM, and some MANPADS. There were rumors about other SAMs but I have no specific info on the Buk. Also, what exactly is a Buk-M2EK? The standard export variant is the Buk-M2E. What's the K variant then?
I have also heard mentions of it. I don't know if it's still running, but it's likely. Then again a new mid-range SAM is also under development, called Vityaz. So the Buk-M3 might've been cancelled. Buk-M2 procurement is proceeding however, and exports for it are too. So it's likely they continue developing incremental modernization variants even if a new SAM is planned soon.
According to wiki: "Buk-M2EK - A wheeled variant of Buk-M2 on MZKT-6922 chassis is currently under active development."
Ah, yes I knew transplanted the Buk on the MZKT chassis, used for the Tor-M2s, I just didn't know that variant had a different designation. Thanks for letting me know.
They also just got another 3 handed over. For a total of 9 new Yak-130s.
Pantsir's are indeed deployed alongside S-400s.
More pics here
The usual, I guess, extended range, improved resolution, more targets tracked and engaged, higher resistance to jamming.