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

Russia will Add 200 New Aircraft to Defense Arsenal to Maintain Higher Operational Readiness

As NATO becomes well entrenched in Eastern Europe, Russia has decided to boost its air capabilities, with almost 200 new airplanes and helicopters to be inducted into its air force and naval branches.
Most countries do not have a fleet of 200 aircraft in their arsenal.
Russia have also reintroduced long-range military air patrol to test the strength and weaknesses of air defences of NATO-aligned nations, an act reminiscent of the Cold War-era distrust between the West and the Russians.
The Russian dominance in aircraft and space technology is well catalogued. The latest induction would see 126 new aircraft and 88 helicopters.
The aircraft delivery would include Sukhoi Su-34 bombers, multipurpose Su-30SM and Su-35S fighter jets, Yak-130 trainers/light fighters and transport Ilyushin Il-76MD-90 planes. The Russian Air Force is also expected to receive cutting-edge radar stations, such as Nebo-M and Sopka.
The helicopter deliveries will include Ka-52 and Mi-28Nattack helicopters, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-35 combat helicopters and Ka-226.
ibtimes

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

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

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-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.




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