Russian Air Force plans to purchase additional batch of Il-76MD-90A transport aicraft

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World Defense & Security News - Russia
 
 
Russian Air Force plans to purchase additional batch of Il-76MD-90A transport aicraft
 
The Russian military plans to buy an additional number of Ilyushin IL-76 MD-90A transport planes as part of its modernization program. The IL-76 MD-90A is an updated version of the IL-76MD, which itself is based on the IL-76 aircraft platform.
     

Ilyushin Aviation Complex's Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft

     
"By 2020 we expect to have all 39 such aircraft lined up as part of the contract we signed with the Defense Ministry in 2012,” said Sergei Artyukhov, deputy head of the new plane’s maker, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex, a subsidiary of the United Aviation Corporation (UAC).

“The new program for 2020-2025 provides for the delivery of more IL-76 MD-90A planes for our Air Force,” he added.

Artyukhov earlier said the Ilyushin Aviation Complex was also eyeing India and China as potential buyers of the new aircraft.

The IL-76MD-90A was developed to transport a range of military equipment, armed personnel, heavy and long size vehicles and cargoes.

It will also be used in parachuting cargo/troops and other airborne cargo missions.

The new plane, 46.6 meters long and with a wingspan of 50.5 meters, has a cargo compartment of 24.54 by 3.45 by 3.4 meters. The plane has a 5000 km range with a payload of 52 tons (with a maximum lifting capacity of 60 tons), and a cruising speed of 780-850 km/h at an altitude of 9.1-12.1 kilometers. The plane has a crew of six, and in military airlift capacity can carry 225 passengers.