Russia’s civil aviation strategy focuses on diversifying its aircraft portfolio to meet varying capacity and range requirements. The Il-96-400M wide-body airliner will join United Aircraft Corporation’s (UAC) product range, as announced by Anton Alikhanov, Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025).
Minister Alikhanov confirmed that the Il-96-400M – alongside the MC-21-310, SJ-100, and Tu-214 – will strengthen domestic air connectivity and replace foreign-built aircraft in Russia’s fleet. The aircraft is expected to enhance both passenger transportation and cargo logistics nationwide.
The minister emphasized that the program will advance Russia’s expertise in long-haul wide-body aircraft development, including:
- Modernized avionics and systems
- Advanced onboard technologies
- Increased composite material usage
- Foundation for next-generation wide-body projects
The Il-96-400M prototype completed its maiden flight in November 2023. However, serial production plans remain uncertain. Notably, Russia’s 2030 aviation development program lists Il-96-300 deliveries but omits the -400M variant.
In 2021, then-Deputy PM Yuri Borisov acknowledged that airline disinterest and pandemic-related global long-haul aircraft groundings affected -400M production plans. Initial orders were limited to government operators, including two aircraft for the Rossiya State Transport Unit (which handles VIP government flights). Rostec later clarified the -400M was conceived as a specialized aircraft for limited production.
Deputy PM Denis Manturov confirmed cargo-configured -400M production first, with potential passenger conversion later. Engine configuration remains undecided (26/35/38-ton thrust options). Future competitiveness improvements may involve re-engining with two PD-35s (Russia’s next-gen high-thrust turbofans) instead of four current engines.
Parallel R&D continues on a new-generation wide-body aircraft for post-2030 service.
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