Breaking news
First serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A strategic airlifter made its maiden flight.
| a | |||
| |
|||
World
Defense & Security Industry News - Aviastar-SP |
|||
| First serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A strategic airlifter made its maiden flight | |||
The
first serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) strategic transport
aircraft has made its maiden flight, the Russian Aviastar-SP production
facility announced on 30 December. Aircraft 0104 flew for more than two
hours at Aviastar-SP’s Ulyanovsk aircraft factory, about 700 km
east of Moscow. |
|||
Serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A strategic airlifter during its
maiden flight |
|||
Aviastar-SP
said the aircraft’s engines, equipment, and general handling were
evaluated during the flight.
Following further
‘factory tests’, the aircraft will be delivered to the Russian
Air Force (Voyenno-Vozdushnyye Sily – VVS). The VVS is contracted
to receive 39 of the upgraded Il-76MD-90A airlifters. It is understood
to have a requirement for up to 100 of the upgraded tankers, as well
as 38 Il-76MD-90A-derived Il-478 tankers. Structural improvements include a modified wing and reinforced landing gear. The engines have also been updated. These upgrades give the aircraft a 60-tonne payload (up from 40 tonnes for the baseline Il-76) and a 12% reduced fuel consumption, enabling the Il-76MD-90A to fly up to 8,500 km with a 20-tonne load or 4,100 km with a 50-tonne load. "We are fully satisfied with the performance of the aircraft and the progress of the programme. New qualities gained through deep modernization of ‘IL-76’ significantly expand the scope of the airplane. It is a platform for the production of multi-role transport aircraft, providing parachutes personnel, transportation equipment, fuel, containers, and also for creation of a special aircraft system. The potential of Il-76MD-90A meets the modern requirements of the air force of the country and has great prospects for the future," said Russian air force Commander Viktor Bondarev. |
|||