Article Posted on : - Dec 26, 2009

A file photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Il-476 heavy transport planes will be introduced in the Russia Air Force by 2012, which will be an improvised version of its Il-76 Candid transport plane, commander of the Russian Air Force's military transport aviation said to Russian media.

"I think the Il-476, which will eventually replace the Il-76, will start arriving in the military transport aviation sometime in 2012," RIA Novosti quoted Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin as saying.

According to the media report, Russian Defence Ministry is planning to buy aerial and cargo tanker version of Il-476, which will be approx thirty eight in number.

Many Russian Air Force transport aircraft are said to be archaic and therefore a series of new aircraft will be soon inducted in its Air Force, it said.