Boeing steps in to help the manufacturer of the world’s biggest plane

Paul Kane | Getty Images News | Getty Images

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 15: The front end of the Antonov AN-225 Mriya is opened prior to unloading of cargo after arriving at Perth International airport on May 15, 2016 in Perth, Australia. The Ukrainian cargo plane is 84 metres long and has a wingspan of 88.4 metres and is in Perth to (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Boeing stepped in to rescue the Ukrainian plane maker Antonov, known for producing the world’s largest aircraft.

The firm had ceased production because of its heavy reliance on Russian imports, which had collapsed after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

But, Boeing’s parts, equipment and services unit, Aviall, is set to now provide the components and Antonov plans to build eight aircraft a year from the end of next year. The deal, which was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, was confirmed to CNBC via email on Friday.

President of Antonov, Oleksandr Donets, told Reuters in an interview that the next step is to build a storage facility with Aviall.

“This warehouse will deal with products, materials, metals, non-metals — with all components we are not able to get from our former partner, the Russian Federation,” he said.

Donets added that the warehouse would be funded by the Boeing subsidiary.

Antonov builds a range of passenger, cargo and transport aircraft. The latest under development is the An-132, a twin-engined turboprop used for military transportation which is being jointly developed with Saudi Arabia.