Russian Air Force expects 3 Il-76MD-90A upgraded airlifters for 2018.

Russia’s military transport aviation is planning to receive three Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A planes and one upgraded An-124 Ruslan (NATO reporting name: Condor) aircraft this year, Military Transport Aviation Deputy Commander and Chief Engineer Mikhail Kozlov said.

A VVS Il-76MD-90A airlifter
(Credit: UAC)

"This year, we will receive three Il-76MD-90A planes and one upgraded An-124 Ruslan aircraft," Kozlov said.

During a meeting, senior officials of the military transport aviation’s aeronautical engineering service discussed the procedure of handing over the Il-76MD-90A and the An-124-100 planes, as well as "problems concerning the production of components for transport aircraft," he added.

The meeting took place at the Aviastar-SP Enterprise in Ulyanovsk in the Volga area. The officials were shown the production of transport planes and the manufacturing capabilities of the enterprise.

"The participants in the meeting discussed ways to ensure reliability of aircraft and flight safety. Special attention was paid to the production of the Il-76MD-90A plane and the upgrade of the An-124 aircraft," Kozlov said.

The Il-76MD-90A is a highly upgraded version of the Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) plane. Its advanced flight and navigation system, automatic control system and communications equipment enhance flight safety and navigation and airdropping accuracy.
The latest version of the military transport aircraft has advanced equipment, including a glass cockpit, up-to-date PS-90A-76 engines, a modified wing and reinforced landing gear.

The Il-76MD-90A plane is serving as the basis for the Il-78M-90A aerial refueling aircraft.

The An-124 Ruslan heavy transport plane is designed to transport large cargo, military personnel and armament. It has a maximum cargo-carrying capacity of 120 tons, a maximum speed of 865 km/h (537 mph) and a maximum payload range of 4,800 kilometers (2,982 miles).

According to the US Military Balance analytical book, the Russian Aerospace Force operates nine An-124 aircraft. Ten Ruslan planes are used by the Volga-Dnepr Company.

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