UAC, Russian Industry and Trade Ministry approve Il-276 requirements specification.

The requirements specification for the perspective Ilyushin Il-276 military transport plane has been approved by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Industry and Trade Ministry, the Ilyushin Company’s press office told TASS.

Il-276 airlifter scale model at MAKS 2017

The Ilyushin Company is a UAC subsidiary. "The requirements specification for the Il-276 medium military transport plane has been approved by the United Aircraft Corporation and the Industry and Trade Ministry," the press office said. "The requirements specification has been agreed with the Defense Ministry."

"It is planned to be finally approved no later than in the second quarter of 2018," the press office added.The first flight of the Il-276 plane is scheduled for 2023, the press office said. The development work on it is planned to be completed in 2025 and the serial supplies to the Defense Ministry are expected to begin in 2026, the press office added.

Work on the preliminary design will last through the first quarter of 2019.

An aerial tanker, a communication post and a flying hospital are being developed on the basis of the project of the perspective Il-276 military transport plane. "The program’s first-priority task is to develop a transport plane that will meet all the military’s requirements. Technical solutions are currently being worked out, considering the plane’s various versions," the press office said.

"Then, everything will depend on the customer’s decision. The version the customer will need first of all will perform its maiden flight," the press office added.

In 2019, the Ilyushin Company will start developing special training simulators for Il-276 pilots.

"There are plans to produce special simulators and training facilities that will allow the pilots to master the new aircraft. Work to develop the training simulators will start in 2019 and their deliveries will begin in 2026," the press office said.The Il-276 medium military transport plane formerly known as the Russian-Indian Multipurpose Transport Aircraft (MTA) is being developed to replace the Antonov An-12 (NATO reporting name: Cub) plane.It will be a high-wing T-tail aircraft with two engines under the wing.

It will be able to take off from unpaved airfields.The plane will be equipped with a ramp for handling operations and airdropping.The Il-276 plane’s layout will be similar to that of the Il-76 (Candid) but its cargo compartment will be a bit shorter.