MOSCOW. Jan 8 (Interfax-AVN) -The IL-76MF Candid cargo aircraft will be serial-produced by the Voronezh Aircraft Building Society, a competent source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-Military News Agency Wednesday.
The Russian Defense Ministry has no money to arrange production at the Voronezh Aircraft Building Society. Above USD100m is needed for that purpose. That is why the Ilyushin Aviakompleks Corporation to be launched early this year will be the main investor in technological preparations for the mass production," the source said.
He recalled that Candids had been built by Chkalov Production Association in Uzbekistan's Taskent. All in all, it made about 950 aircraft of various versions, more than 100 of them exported. At first, Chkalov was considered a candidate for serial production of the IL-76MF, but then by various reasons Ilyushin decided to arrange its production in Russia.
According to the source, the Air Force commander determined that the preliminary conclusion on the compliance of the aircraft with the customer's requirements and possibility of its serial production is to be submitted in the first quarter 2003.
The IL-76MF will have new PS-90A bypass turbojet engines and a fuselage longer by 6.6m than that of the conventional aircraft. The latter increased the volume of the cargo compartment by 50 percent. The load capacity of the derivative is by 30 to 50 percent higher, the fuel efficiency is better by 15 percent, and the operational range with usual load is better by 15 to 20 percent. In addition, the aircraft has better noise and exhaust characteristics not exceeding ICAO limits.
Experts say potential demand of the Russian Air Force for the aircraft is about 100 pieces.