On 12 September 2019, NSPA and SALIS (Strategic Airlift International Solution) member nations gathered at the Antonov Logistics SALIS (ALS) facilities at the Leipzig/Halle airport to mark the event of reaching the "full operational capability" of the SALIS Base-Of-Operations. This flight base supports the operations and maintenance of 2 x AN-124 aircraft used for NATO/EU and national missions for the SALIS project.
The contract provides the 10 NATO nations, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia with assured access to outsized cargo aircraft.
It foresees guaranteed availability of a certain number of AN-124 aircraft within 72h, and additional AN-124 aircraft within 6 or 9 days calling notice.
In addition to the AN-124 aircraft, cargo capacity on other large cargo aircraft, i.e. AN-225, AN-22 and IL-76 (ICAO Chapter IV) is being provided subject to availability.
Representatives from the SALIS nations and NSPA had the opportunity to inspect the offices, laboratories and workshops of ALS and to visit various cargo aircraft made available on this special occasion. At the end-of-the-day, all attendees confirmed, "a day well spent with a lot of interesting discussions with key players from the airport, ALS and Antonov Company."