MOSCOW. Feb 8 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian military transport aviation will commission the first two IL-76MF Candid planes in 2002, Lieutenant General Viktor Denisov, commander of the military transport aviation, said on Friday.
"I believe we will get those planes this year," Denisov told Interfax-Military News Agency. Prospects of commissioning the IL- 76MF aircraft were among the very first questions asked to Denisov by new Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov after taking office.
The IL-76MF is undergoing the final stage of flight tests. "As far as I know, the only thing left to do is to draft documents on the PS-90 engines confirming their adjustment to the plane's military modification," the commander said. The military transport aviation was expected to commission the first two IL- 76MF yet last year, he noted.
"The director of the Tashkent aircraft plant has made a written statement saying he is ready to transfer the first two planes to Russia without pre-payment if he gets a governmental guarantee," Denisov stressed.
He also said that in 2002 funds would be allocated for mastering serial production of the AN-70 military transport. The aircraft-building and engine-building plants that will be engaged in the plane's mass production are located in Russia.
"The military transport aviation needs both the IL-76MF and AN-70 planes," Denisov said. The ratio of these aircraft in the military transport aviation's inventory will be similar to that of the IL-76 and AN-12 Cub at present. According to him, the two planes are also of interest to the transport aviation, the Federal Border Guard Service, Emergencies Ministry, Interior Ministry and several other ministries and departments.