MOSCOW. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The delivery of four upgraded Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers and four Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A heavy-lift military transport planes to the Russian Armed Forces is planned for this year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"This year, the Armed Forces are expected to procure six Il-76MD-90A and four Tu-160M aircraft," Shoigu said at a teleconference with ministry heads on Tuesday.
He said they would discuss the fulfillment of the aircraft delivery plan by the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
"We will plan the efforts towards the unconditional fulfillment of the 2023 delivery plan at the teleconference," Shoigu said.
No press was allowed at that part of the teleconference.
As reported, the Kazan Aircraft Plant, a branch of the Tupolev company (part of Rostec's UAC), will resume production of a new configuration of strategic bombers capable of delivering nuclear weapons - the Tu-160M. They look like the standard Tu-160 plane but have a much greater combat capacity thanks to a broader range of weapons and new second series NK-32 engines, which increase the range of operation by 1,000 kilometers. Tu-160M aircraft also have new piloting and navigation equipment and a new communication system, control system, radar, and ECM system.
The Il-76MD-90A is the second-generation derivative of the Il-76 heavy-lift military transport plane. Unlike the Il-76MD in operation, it has more powerful, fuel-saving PS-90-76 engines with a thrust of up to 14.5 tonnes instead of the standard D-30KP2 engines, which have a thrust of up to 12 tonnes. According to the manufacturer, the new plane has a greater lifting capacity and transportation range for paratroopers and cargo. It can now transport 52 tonnes of cargo distances of 5,000 kilometers and can carry a maximum payload of 60 tonnes.