Russian Air Force receives first Il-76MD-90A airlifter

The Russian Air Force took delivery of its first Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft on 3 December, the aircraft's design bureau announced.
The aircraft, which is the first of an expected 30 upgraded Il-76 'Candid' airlifters to be built through to 2020, was delivered to Ivanovo-Severnyy Airbase about 200 km northeast of Moscow. Also referred to as the Il-476, the Il-76MD-90A made its maiden flight on 22 September 2012. The first aircraft was delivered to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for operational test and evaluation in April 2015.
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, giving the aircraft a 60-tonne payload (up from 40 tonnes for the baseline Il-76) and a 12% reduced fuel consumption. The upgraded platform can fly up to 8,500 km with a 20-tonne load or 4,100 km with a 50-tonne load.
While the VVS has a stated requirement for 100 such aircraft (as well as about 40 Il-76MD-90A-derived Il-478 tankers), President Vladimir Putin announced a contract for 39 in October 2012. This number was reduced again to just 30 aircraft earlier this year.
Further to the Il-76MD-90A procurement, the VVS is upgrading 30 to 35 of its existing Il-76s to the Il-76MDM standard. The Il-76MDM modernisation involves refurbishing the aircraft's existing engines and equipping them with many of the new systems installed on the Il-76MD-90A.
janes

Finland Air Force intercepted Russian IL-76 suspected of violating its Airspace

Finland Air Force F-18 Hornet fighters were scrambled Friday afternoon when it is believed that a Russian IL-76 military transport aircraft violated Finnish airspace south of the coast town of Porvoo.
The suspected violation took place at around 2:15 PM on Friday. The Russian aircraft was identified and photographed by Finnish Air Force fighters sent to investigate.
Finland Border Guard is investigating the incident as a possible violation of the nation's airspace.
This was the second incident of its kind this year. The first involved a Polish aircraft. Last year, there were five confirmed violations of Finland's airspace. Five of those were by Russian planes.
yle.fi

Russia exercises with Il-76 as 'bombers'

The Russian Air Force has performed bomb-carrying trials with its Ilyushin Il-76 strategic transport aircraft.
In the exercise, an Il-76MD was fitted with P-50T practice bombs on four underwing hardpoints.
The modification is geared at enabling the aircraft to operate on unprepared and unfamiliar airfields behind enemy lines.
janes

Russia orders new Il-96 tanker aircraft

Russia has ordered two Ilyushin Il-96-400TZ air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
The contract is notable as it marks the first time that Russia will convert one of its civilian wide-bodied airliners into a military air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft.
The aircraft, which are specified as being newbuilds, will supplement the Russian Air Force's existing fleet of 20 Ilyushin Il-78 'Midas' tanker aircraft.
The new aircraft will be fitted with the same UPAZ-1  wing-mounted air-to-air refuelling pods as the Il-78.
The MoD added that the Il-96-400TZ aircraft would be able to transfer in excess of 65 tons (58,967 kg) of fuel at ranges of up to 3,500 km.
The four-engine Il-96 civilian airliner first entered service with Aeroflot in 1992 and now only remains in service with the Cubana airline and the Rossiya Russian government state fleet which operates the Il-96-300PU Russian presidential aircraft.
To date only 30 Il-96s have been built since the aircraft made its first flight in 1988. With the air force's existing fleet of 20 Il-78 aircraft scheduled to be retired in the not-too-distant future, a second life as an AAR aircraft could provide a future for Il-96 production.
janes

First serial-production Il-76MD-90A airlifter makes maiden flight

The first serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) strategic transport aircraft has made its maiden flight at Aviastar-SP's Ulyanovsk aircraft factory, about 700 km east of Moscow.
Aircraft's engines, equipment, and general handling were evaluated during the flight.
The Russian Air Force 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.
The Il-76MD-90A development is part of a wider revamp of the VVS's airlift capabilities that should see it replace much of its current Soviet-era stock with new and improved platforms by about 2020.
The Il-76MDM upgrade process should increase the service life of 41 of the VVS's current Il-76MD fleet by a further 15 years, but at a third of the cost of buying brand new Il-76MD-90A aircraft.
janes

No C-17 delivered to Algeria, Boeing confirms

Algeria has not received into service a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, the manufacturer confirmed on 17 December.
A C-17 in Algerian Air Force (al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jaza'eriya) markings was reported to have landed at Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport on 10 December, the Secret Difa3 blog reported eyewitnesses as saying. However, it has since emerged that this may have in fact been an aircraft belonging to the Qatar Emiri Air Force, though it is unclear how the roundels could have been confused.
With the C-17 production line due to close down in early 2015, there had been speculation that Algeria's interest may have come too late.
When Boeing announced the line closure in 2013, it said it was to build additional aircraft, dubbed 'white-tails', in the expectation that customers would be found (India and Kuwait were the only contracted customers still to receive aircraft at the time of the announcement).
According to Boeing, there were 10 white-tails remaining before the company recently sold two "to an undisclosed customer". The identity of this customer remains unknown.
In November Australia signed for four more aircraft, leaving just four of the white-tail C-17s available. Canada is reportedly interested in acquiring another aircraft, India has previously stated that it would like a further six (although the numbers on the line no longer remain for this to happen), and there are reports that New Zealand has expressed an interest in one or two as well. Earlier reported interest from NATO and the Partnership for Peace nations for additional aircraft is no longer there. The same is true for the United Kingdom, which had suggested procuring more aircraft but will not now do so.
With its current strategic transport inventory made of the Soviet-era Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid' platforms, and with its tactical C-130H Hercules platforms having been procured from the United States in the early 1980s, Algeria has been looking to update its airlift capabilities.
To this end, it ordered six Airbus Defence and Space (DS) C295 tactical transport aircraft in 2005, five of which have been delivered. In addition to the C295 and still desired C-17 procurements, Algeria has also expressed interest in the Airbus DS A330-200 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) and Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, although again there has been no confirmation of any contract having been placed.
As indicated by these latest procurements and expressions of interest, Algeria is increasingly looking to buy Western rather than Russian military equipment across its fleet types.
In 2009 AgustaWestland signed a contract for up to 100 helicopters (following on from a 2007 order for Merlin and Lynx search-and-rescue helicopters) for Algeria, and US company General Atomics has reportedly been in discussions with regard to its Predator-series unmanned aerial vehicle. In addition, the country has also been linked to the possible sale of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Saab Gripen E/F, and Dassault Rafale fighters, as well as Saab Erieye and Boeing 737 airborne early warning aircraft.
janes

Finnish Air Force reports intense Russian activity in Baltic

The Finnish Air Force revealed on Tuesday that unusually intense Russian activity has been detected over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea in general during a major military exercise by the Russian Armed Forces.
The activity was first detected on 6 December and has continued between Sunday and Tuesday. It remains unknown when the exercise is scheduled to end.
Finnish Minister of Defence, estimated on Tuesday that the activity is clearly a show of force by Russia.
The activity has prompted the Finnish Air Force to step up its air-policing operations by, for example, adjusting the number of Hornet jets on stand-by at several airbases. Nato has similarly bolstered its efforts to monitor the airspace of Sweden and the Baltic countries.
The activity is unusual also in light of the number and types of aircraft detected in the region.
The detected detachments have included bombers, stealth and interceptor jets as well as transport aircraft.
Perhaps the most unusual aircraft is Tupolev Tu-95.
None of the aircraft have violated Finnish airspace.
The aircrafts have been moving between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad, back and forth.
In addition to the Tupolev Tu-95, Finnish jets have identified Tupolev Tu-22M bombers as well as Suhoi Su-27 and MiG-31 jets. Suhoi Su-24 and Suhoi Su-34 jets as well as Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-26 multi-purpose aircraft have also been detected over the Baltic Sea.
helsinkitimes

Russia to develop new AWACS aircraft based on IL-76MD-90A plane

Beriyev Aviation on Friday will receive the first series Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A plane for making an advanced airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft on its base, the plane manufacturer.
The A-100 Premier AWACS aircraft prototype will be made on the Ilyushin aircraft basis in Taganrog (in Russia’s southern Rostov region), the company said.
The manufacturing cycle for one Il-76MD-90A plane is two years and 13 aircraft of the IL-76 family are currently at different stages of manufacture.
The advanced AWACS plane A-100 Premier designed to replace the A-50 aircraft will have an advanced active phase array capable of detecting and tracking airborne and land-based targets.
The Russian Air Force has around 20 A-50 Mainstay AWACS planes, based on the Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. The A-50 is equipped with the large Liana surveillance radar with its antenna in an over-fuselage rotodome and can control up to ten fighter aircraft for either air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions.
itar-tass

NATO Baltic Jets Intercept Russian Airplanes for Third Day

NATO jets in the Baltic countries intercepted two Russian military aircraft today as the alliance said Russian air activity has surged on its borders.
F-16 jets from NATO’s Baltic air policing mission intercepted a Russian Su-27 fighter and Eurofighter aircraft later shadowed an IL-76 military transport plane, Latvia’s army said on its Twitter account. It reported interceptions of seven Russian jets yesterday and on Oct. 28.
Amid tensions with the Kremlin over the crisis in Ukraine, North Atlantic Treaty Organization jets have tracked more than 100 Russian aircraft so far this year, more than triple the number in 2013.
Russians are exercising and moving aircraft in the Baltic area between St. Petersburg and the Kaliningrad exclave much more than they did in the past as a result of higher military spending.
NATO warplanes monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting “significant” maneuvers in European airspace over the Baltic, North and Black seas, the alliance said in a statement today.
Repeated Incidents
While most interceptions don’t involve airspace incursions, Latvia’s northern neighbor Estonia and non-aligned Finland have reported repeated incidents this year where Russian aircraft violated their airspace. Sweden staged its biggest naval mobilization since the Cold War earlier this month in a week-long hunt for a suspected foreign vessel in the Stockholm archipelago.
Russian warplanes practiced a bombing mission against Denmark’s Baltic Sea island of Bornholm in June, the Jyllands-Posten newspaper reported, citing information from military intelligence.
bloomberg

China needs 400 Y-20 cargo planes for military transport

The People's Liberation Army will need at least 400 Y-20 cargo planes produced by the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation in order to catch up with the force projection capabilities of the United States, Russia and India, according to a report published by the National Defense University of China cited in the party-run People's Daily.
The report said that the three-dimensional transportation network in China consisting of air, ground and maritime vehicles will play an important role in improve the force projection capability of the Chinese military. During an exercise in 2009, passenger and cargo planes from civilian airlines were mobilized to transfer 50,000 officers from China's four different military regions to participate in the exercise along with military aircraft and ground transporation.
Bohai Sea Green Pearl, a 36,000-tonne ferry vessel launched in Aug. 2012, can also be modified into China's largest amphibious augmentation platform when the PLA Navy needs.
Various weaknesses regarding China's force projection capabilities were laid out in the report as well. First, China does not have enough large ferry vessels like the Bohai Sea Green Pearl to launch a large-scale amphibious invasion. Second, China does not have enough large military cargo planes such as the Y-20.
Currently, the United States Air Force has 700 large transports used for strategic airlift. The Russian Air Force has 800 medium transports while the Indian Air Force has 200. As the report said, the PLA Air Force needs at least 400 Y-20 cargo aircraft to transport 10 regiments of soldiers to conduct military operations in different battlefronts along the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, some air force bases in China are still unable to accomodate large cargo planes like the Il-76.
wantchinatimes

India To Augment Awacs Fleet

In a bid to boost its aerial surveillance, India will buy six aircraft that can be used for supporting its indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System (Awacs).
Though the type of aircraft hasn’t been specified, India is looking at acquiring a platform that can support an Awacs antenna dome, which is about 10 meters in diameter. The aircraft also should have provisions for the installation of all external and internal elements of the mission systems, the official adds.
Only original aircraft manufacturers are qualified to submit the bids. Also, “the vendors should be willing to support the product for a period not less than 30 years from the date of acceptance of the aircraft,” he says.
In March 2013, Indian Defense Minister said the indigenous development of Awacs was envisioned to be completed in 84 months. The program started in late 2013 and is expected to be completed by around 2020, assuming there are no delays.
IAF currently operates three Awacs platforms: Ilyushin IL-76s upgraded with Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Phalcon Awacs radar and mission control systems, with a platform designation of A-50EI. The modified IL-76s already serves in Russia as the A-50 Awacs.
India has already activated a follow-on order for two additional A-50EIs from IAI.
According to the defense ministry official, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which is developing the radars and sensors, is looking at either the Boeing-767 or Airbus A330 as the new platform. However, vendors such as Ilyushin, Antonov, Sukhoi, Bombardier and Saab could also be in the running.
aviationweek

Modernised Il-76-MD90A Completes Initial Flight Tests

Russia’s newest military transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A, has completed an initial flight-test programme.
The Il-76-MD-90A is a heavily modernised version of the 1970s vintage Il-76, featuring a new wing, new PS-90A high-bypass turbofan engines, strengthened undercarriage, an uprated two-man glass cockpit and avionics and a new navigation system.
The first production Il-76-MD-90A is in an advanced state of assembly, while the airframe of the second has also been built and is being fitted out with subsystems. A third airframe is under construction.
The first completed Il-76-MD-90A is due for delivery in 2014. Moscow ordered 39 of the transports last October.
flightglobal

Il-76s for the SAAF?

A SA National Defence Force team is burning the midnight oil on an urgent study to ensure extra airlift capacity for the SA Air Force (SAAF) becomes a reality.
Ilyushin 76s (Il-76s) are top of the list to supplement the ageing C-130BZs operated by 28 Squadron.
The acquisition of at least three of the Russian transport aircraft, probably second hand, is seen as essential to providing support for South African peacekeeping and peace support deployments on the continent.
Lockheed Martin, manufacturers of the C-130, has made presentations to the SAAF as regards replacing the BZ, which has been in service for 50 years, with the new C-130J. The gap in airlift capacity became more pronounced when government bailed out of the Airbus Military A400M programme in 2009 citing cost escalations and production delays as the reasons for South Africa no longer wanting to be a risk sharing partner in the new generation airlifter.
The SAAF has never before operated Russian aircraft and, if Il-76s were acquired, it would mean an overhaul of the logistic system to keep them operational. There are also currently no SAAF pilots rated on the Il-76.
The SANDF has used chartered Il-76s to transport equipment to places like the Democratic Republic of Congo for peacekeeping missions, as it is difficult to fit aircraft like Oryx helicopters into the SAAF's C-130s without major dismantling.
saairforce

First image of a North Korean militarized, camouflaged Il-76 cargo plane

It looks like some of North Korea‘s Il-76 cargo planes have been militarized and given an interesting camouflaged color scheme.
The image showing the Il-76TD the military camo (the first and, probably, only so far), whose source is unclear, was posted on El Hangar de TJ website.
Since Air Koryo operates three of these Soviet-made aircraft to carry cargo in China and Russia (provided all the examples ordered at the beginning of the 1990s are still serviceable), it is safe to believe the one depicted in the photograph is a civilian one belonging to the state-owned national flag carrier airline of North Korea.
theaviationist via El Hangar de TJ

New Il-476 Cargo Plane Tests Stalled by Weather

The first Defense Ministry test flights of the prototype Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (also known as the Il-476) heavy-lift transport plane at a flight test center near Moscow were postponed indefinitely due to bad weather on Wednesday, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex press service said.
The first flight at the Zhukovsky flight test center was set for 12.00 Moscow time (08.00 GMT) on Wednesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s program.
“The flight has been canceled due to the meteorological conditions. Everything was completely ready for the start of the tests but the flight had to be put off due to a heavy snowfall,” a company spokeswoman said.

en.rian.ru

Indian Air Force conducts Iron Fist 2013 military exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted its first day-night exercise, code-named Iron Fist 2013, in an effort to display its operational and precision fire power capabilities at the Pokhran test range facility in Rajasthan, India.
Involving participation from around 230 aircraft, the exercise was used to demonstrate day, dusk and night employability of aerial weapons by the IAF's front-line fighter aircraft, in addition to highlighting their ability to conduct seamless network-centric operations with the army and navy.
The exercise featured displays of various fire power aspects, such as air defence operations, counter surface force operations, urban warfare, combat search rescue operations, assault approach and landing, combat offloading and a short take off by a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.
Participating fighter aircraft included Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Hawk trainers, whereas the C130J, AN-32, Embraer Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and IL-76 Candid constitute the transport aircraft elements.

airforce-technology

IL-476 Airlifter Makes First Long Test Flight

A prototype Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (also known as the Il-476) heavy-lift transport plane completed its first prolonged test flight on Tuesday, its manufacturer Aviastar said.
The flight, which lasted four hours and 25 minutes at altitudes of up to 10,000 meters (33,000 feet), was designed to assess the performance of its onboard avionics, engines, automated control system, and other characteristics, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar said.
The prototype will soon be sent to the Zhukovsky flight test center near Moscow for further trials.

The Il-76MD-90A is an extensively modernized version of the forty-year-old Il-76 military transport aircraft, fitted with a new wing, fuel-efficient high-bypass Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans, and a modernized cockpit with so-called “glass cockpit” displays, allowing the flight crew to be reduced to three people.
Russia’s Defense Ministry signed a contract last October for delivery of 39 Il-76MD-90As, to be built before 2018.
Aviastar hopes to build up to 100 such aircraft by 2020 for Russian state customers, the company has previously said.




defencetalk

India quiere seis nuevos aviones cisterna/ India Floats a New Bid for Six New Tankers

La Fuerza Aérea India quierea adquirir seis nuevos aviones cisterna para reforzar sus capacidades. El nuevo avión estería basado en el IL-86 ruso. Actualmente India opera seis 6 Ilyushin IL-78MKI.
(read more)
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The Indian Air Force is seeking to buy six new flying tankers to augment its existing aerial refueling capability, based on Russian built IL-86 flying tankers. The IAF currently operates 6 Ilyushin IL-78MKI
(read more)

India comienza pruebas de su tercer IL-76 AEW/ India's third AEW aircraft undergoes tests

La Fuerza Aérea India está probando su tercer Ilyushin Il-76 en versión de alerta temprana. Este avión porta equipos diferentes a los dos anteriores.
El avión fue probado en vuelos de larga duración sobre Israel y el Mediterráneo, en varios escenarios, con personal de la Fuerza Aérea India a bordo.
India solicitó características especiales no especificadas para el tercer Il-76 AEW&C. Los tres han sido modificados en Israel por Elta Systems.
flightglobal
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The Indian air force's third Ilyushin Il-76-based airborne early warning and control aircraft has undergone flight tests equipped with additional systems.
The aircraft was tested during long-duration flights over Israel and the Mediterranean from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, and included "some very complex scenarios", according to one source. Indian air force personnel were aboard the platform for all the sorties.
India requested unspecified additional capabilities for its third Il-76 AEW&C aircraft after taking delivery of its first two examples from Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems subsidiary.
flightglobal

INDIA RECIBIRA SEGUNDO AWACS EN MARZO/INDIA WILL GET SECOND AWACS IN MARCH

Según India Times, la Fuerza Aérea India, (IAF) obtendrá su segundo AWACS en Marzo, un poco mas tarde de lo previsto. Esto incrementará inmensamente las capacidade de la IAF.
La IAF ha comprado 3 AWACS de Israel, llegando el primero en Mayo de 2009. El radar Phalcon que porta, será integrado también en un IL-76 y tendrá su base en Agra, una de las bases mas importantes y estratégicas del pais.
India forma parte del selecto club de naciones que poseen AWACS ( Estados Unidos, Rusia, Gran Bretaña, Japón, Australia y Turquía, otros como Pakistán, Brasil y Grecia, operan otros AWACS mas limitados).
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According India Times the Indian Air Force (IAF) will get its second AWACS in March, a little delayed than scheduled. It would enhance IAF's capabilities tremendously.
The IAF has purchased three AWACS from Israel.The first one arrived in May last year. Like the first one, the cutting-edge technology Phalcon airborne radar is being integrated with the IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft, and will be based also at Agra Air base, home of IL-76 and IL-78 too, and one of the largest in the country and with strategic importance.
India is in the select club of nations - the US, Russia, Britain, Japan, Australia and Turkey - that operate such a sophisticated system. Other countries - notably Pakistan, Brazil and Greece - too operate AWACS but at a much lower end of the scale in terms of capability.