Russian developers will need 6 years and  $775,3 million (25 billion rubles) of investments in order to implement the “Air Launch” project allowing launching the space missiles from An-124 carrier aircraft, RIA Novosti reports. It is stated in the documents of “Academician V.P. Makeyev State Rocket Center” (Makeyev GRTs).

The “Air Launch” project was started in 1999, however its implementation did not get underway ever since. As stated in the annual report of GRTs, the owner of the enterprise, which is implementing the project, at present this work is being carried out on the basis of private-public partnership through Vnesheconombank.

It is planned to develop a technology demonstrator prior to the start of research and development work, because investors want to see the innovative part of the project. The similar project has already been implemented in USA – the last rocket with orbiting telescope was launched on June 13th 2012 above the water space of Pacific Ocean.

"The estimated cost of “Air Launch” technology demonstrator’s development is 4 billion rubles; completion period is 3 years. The total cost of development of “Air Launch” aerial launch platform including cost of demonstrator is 25.3 billion rubles; the completion period – 5-6 years", - said in the company’s annual report.

The demonstrator will be created in order to develop the new technology of altitude missile ejection under conditions of real flight (using An-124 aircraft) in “microgravity” mode (occurs during performance of “Zoom” maneuver) using “mortar launch”.

The proposal on carrying out development of the demonstrator was supported by the Federal Space Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Economic Development, said in the documents.