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World
Aviation Industry News - Russia |
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First
test flight in June for the Russian modernized aircraft Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A
named Il-476.
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Russia’s modernized
Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A aircraft, also known as the Il-476, will conduct
its maiden flight by the end of June, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar aircraft
maker said on Friday, March 2, 2012.
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Russian Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft |
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The Il-476 is an extensively modified variant of the
Il-76 freighter, with new engines, reinforced wing, modernized cockpit,
and heavier payload. The aircraft will be primarily built for the Russian
Armed Forces and Emergencies Ministry.
“Project 476 is our future,” Aviastar General Director Sergei
Dementyev said.
Aviastar, which also manufactures super-heavy Antonov An-124 transport
planes, expects to build up to ten of the Il-476 aircraft per year and
is in talks with export customers including India and China as well
as commercial customers.
China canceled a contract agreed earlier with Russia for delivery of
around 38 Il-76 transport and Il-78 tanker aircraft, after TAPO, the
Uzbekistan-based Il-76 airframe producer said it could no longer deliver
the airframes as production had slowed.
Russia then had to move production to Aviastar in order to complete
the Il-476 modification programs for the Russian Air Force.
The Russian Defense Ministry wants to buy up to 100 of the aircraft
over ten years to replace existing Il-76s.
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