A Russian company has announced plans to launch satellites into space on rockets parachuted using a modified An-124-AL heavy lift plane would launch non-military payloads of up to 3500 kg and the satellites would be on two-stage Progress rockets, launched from an altitude of 7 miles. The project has been developed by Air Launch Corp and a dozen other companies in Russia and Ukraine. Polyot is working with firms including Energiya, and Ukraine's Antonov design bureau. Air Launch would charge US$5-6,000 per kilogram. Polyot initially plans to have six 120-ton-capacity Ruslans making launches. Four planes will be acquired from the airforce and will be converted by the Aviastar aircraft plant, in the Volga river town of Ulyanovsk. Air Launch plans their first launch to be in 2003.

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