Article Posted on : - Aug 17, 2011

Ilyushin Il-76TD. A Wekipedia photo

MOSCOW (BNS): The first production Il-76MD transport aircraft will be ready this year and test flights will begin in February 2012, Russia's Aviastar said participating at the international MAKS air show in Zhukovsky.

According to Russian news agency Ria Novosti, the Russian Defence Ministry plans to acquire up to 100 Il-76MD over ten years to replace the existing Il-76s.

The report quoting a management source in the plant said, the first two transport aircraft will be delivered by 2013 for the Russian Defence Ministry.

The Il-76MD is an improved variant of the Il-76 with modern PS-90 turbofan engines with a modern flight deck systems and avionics. The Il-76MD variant has an increased flight range and service life and can be operated from unpaved runways in forward areas of operation, according to its manufacturers.

Aviastar aircraft factory based in Ulyanovsk expects to produce up to ten of the aircraft in one year and is reportedly in talks with export customers including India and China as well as commercial customers.