KIEV, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian state-run aircraft producer Antonov said on Friday it has extended the airlift services contract with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for another three years.

The agreement, which is carried out under NATO's Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) program was prolonged till Dec. 31, 2021, Antonov said on Facebook.

The deal envisages that Antonov Airlines, the airlift arm of Antonov company, will provide two AN-124-100 planes on a permanent basis to perform airlift missions in the interests of countries participating in SALIS program.

The SALIS program allows NATO member countries to pool their resources to charter special aircraft that give the alliance the capability to transport heavy cargoes across the globe by air.

Under the contract signed in 2006, Ukraine's Antonov and Russia's Volga-Dnepr agreed jointly provide cargo planes to the participants of SALIS program.

On Jan. 1 this year, Volga-Dnepr has stopped operations under the contract as it has withdrawn from the deal.