Aviastar-SP officially hands over first upgraded Il-76MD-90A to the Russian Aerospace Force

Russia’s Aviastar-SP aircraft maker, part of the United Aircraft-Manufacturing Corporation, has officially delivered the first upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (NATO reporting name: Candid) plane to the Russian Aerospace Force’s military and transport aviation pool, Aviastar-SP CEO Sergei Dementyev said on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015.

The Il76MD-90A plane is the second out of 39 aircraft that will be manufactured on order from the Russian Defense Ministry, Dementyev added.

"The Il-76MD-90A military and transport aircraft manufactured by the Aviastar-SP Enterprise will join the Russian Aerospace Force’s military and transport aviation," the CEO said.

The acceptance report has already been signed. The ceremony was attended by Military and Transport Aviation Commander Vladimir Benediktov.

The Il-76MD-90A aircraft has successfully completed the factory flight test program, which envisaged checking its sustainability and controllability, the work of its equipment, automatic control system and engines. In all, the aircraft performed nine flights.

The Il-76MD-90A plane named after aircraft designer Viktor Livanov was unveiled at the MAKS 2015 air show in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow in August 2015.

The Il-76MD-90A aircraft is a highly upgraded version of the Il-76 plane.

Its advanced attitude and heading reference, automatic control and communications systems have enhanced flight safety, pilotage and airborne landing accuracy.

The latest version of the Il-76MD-90A military and transport aircraft is furnished with advanced equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, modified wings and strengthened chassis.

The Il-78M-90A aerial refueling aircraft is being developed on the basis of the Il-76MD-90A plane. An electronic warfare aircraft is likely to be developed in future.