Russia’s Military-Transport Aviation (VTA) will receive 30 Il-476 (Il-76MD-90A) transport aircraft by 2020 rather than the 39 originally planned, the service’s commander told Russian media in early June.
VTA commander Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov also said some 30-35 existing aircraft – rather than 41 – will be modernised to Il-76MDM standard. Both programmes are under the state programme of armaments (GPV) 2011-2020.
A contract for the Il-476 announced in late 2012 called for 39 aircraft at a cost of RUB140 billion (USD2.6 billion).
Produced by Aviastar-SP in Ulyanovsk, the Il-476 has more powerful and efficient engines, redesigned wings, and reinforced landing gear.
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