First serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A strategic airlifter made its maiden flight

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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.
     
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.

Developed from the Soviet-era Il-76 'Candid', the Il-76MD-90A features a digital 'glass' cockpit as well as modernised flight, navigation, and communication systems.

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.