The Cossack, known as the Antonov An-225 Mriya in Ukrainian (lit. 'dream' or 'inspiration'), was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft developed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
 
Originally created in the 1980s as an enlarged version of the Antonov An-124 airlifter, the An-225 was specifically designed to transport Buran-class orbiters. Its inaugural flight took place on December 21, 1988. Although only one aircraft was fully completed, a second airframe with a slightly different configuration was partially constructed. Initially, the An-225 was employed to support the Soviet space program but was later decommissioned in the early 1990s. In the late 20th century, a decision was made to refurbish the An-225 for commercial operations under Antonov Airlines. It became renowned for transporting oversized payloads that were previously considered impossible to move by air, including 130-ton generators, wind turbine blades, and diesel locomotives. There were plans to complete the second airframe, but lack of funding stalled its construction, and it remained partially completed at around 60-70% by 2009.
 
The An-225 held various records, such as being the heaviest aircraft ever built and having the largest wingspan of any aircraft in active service, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes (705 short tons). It garnered significant public interest and achieved global recognition due to its immense size and uniqueness. Both Chinese and Russian authorities expressed intentions to adapt the An-225 for their respective space programs.
 
Tragically, the sole completed An-225 was destroyed during the Battle of Antonov Airport in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On May 20, 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to complete the second An-225 as a replacement for the destroyed aircraft, while Antonov revealed its own plans to rebuild the destroyed aircraft in November 2022.
 
General characteristics
Crew: 6
Capacity: 190 tonnes (420,000 lb)
Length: 84 m (275 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 0 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 905 m2 (9,740 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 8.6
Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,317 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,410,958 lb)
Fuel capacity: more than 300,000 kilograms (660,000 lb) 375,000 L (82,488 imp gal; 99,065 US gal)
Cargo hold: volume 1,300 m3 (46,000 cu ft), 43.35 m (142.2 ft) long × 6.4 m (21 ft) wide × 4.4 m (14 ft) tall
Powerplant: 6 × Progress D-18T turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) thrust each
Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (530 mph, 460 kn)
Cruise speed: 800 km/h (500 mph, 430 kn)
Range: 15,400 km (9,600 mi, 8,300 nmi) with maximum fuel; range with 200 tonnes payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m2 (135.8 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.234