The IIlyushin Aviation Complex has started certification of the deeply modernised Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft under civilian regulations. This was announced by Daniil Brenerman, Managing Director of IL, at the World Defence Show 2024 in Riyadh.
The lineup of IL-76 aircraft of previous generations included civilian versions designed for commercial cargo transportation, and at least a hundred of these machines are still in operation around the world. According to Daniil Brenerman, taking this into account, as well as the improved flight characteristics of the modernised aircraft, the IL-76MD-90A could attract great interest from cargo airlines to replace foreign transport vessels and the ageing fleet of IL-76s produced at the Tashkent Aircraft Plant.
The new IL-76 is equipped with PS-90A engines and new avionics, which provides it with improved fuel efficiency, greater payload capacity and longer range than earlier versions.
At present, the transfer of the IL-76MD-90A to civilian operators is constrained not only by the absence of a type certificate, but also by the need to unconditionally fulfil the state order under the contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence. According to the contract, Aviastar is to manufacture 14 aircraft of this type by 2028, the first built under this contract was aircraft s/n 0302 (RF-78667), which was handed over to the Air Force at the end of 2022. In 2023, six Il-76MD-90A aircraft were delivered to the Ministry of Defence.
Earlier it was reported that the production facilities of the Ilyushin Aviation Complex in Ulyanovsk are in the process of technical re-equipment of the aggregate-assembly production shop to the flow-based organisation of work. The main goal of the modernisation is to increase production efficiency and to shorten the assembly cycle of aircraft units and compartments.
Daniil Brenerman said that Aviastar is capable of serial production of IL-76MD-90A both for the Russian Air Force and foreign customers. “Undoubtedly, entering serial production has allowed us to start actively promoting the aircraft in both domestic and foreign markets. The Middle East is one of the main target markets,” he explained.
According to him, the effect that the Dubai Airshow, held in November 2023, had had on the decision to show the IL-76MD-90A to Riyadh in the most direct way. “Dubai definitely gave us confidence,” said Daniel Brenerman.
He added that the experience of operating the IL-76 is worldwide, so all those who continue to operate the previous generation aircraft are very interested in the new modernised transporter.
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