MOSCOW. Jan 6 (Interfax-AVN) - China is investigating a feasibility of procuring a large batch of IL-76 Candid military transports and IL-78 Midas tanker aircraft, Viktor Livanov, director general of the Ilyushin Aircraft Corporation, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"Russia, China, and Uzbekistan have been discussing selling a large batch of IL-76 military transports, as well as IL-78 tanker aircraft, based on the IL-76, to China for several years now. The negotiations were resumed in the wake of the recent official visit of China's Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan to Moscow," Livanov said.
According to him, should the contract be signed, aircraft will be manufactured at the Tashkent-based aircraft plant. Livanov refused to specify the number of aircraft. At the same time according to unofficial sources, the Chinese side wants to procure up to 30 IL-76MDs, and six IL-78 tankers.
According to Livanov, the Ilyushin Corporation considers the contract on selling IL-76MD/78 aircraft to be very profitable.
"In addition to royalties per each aircraft sold, the Ilyushin company will also provide maintenance to aircraft sold," he said.
IL-76 aircraft constitute the mainstay of the Russian military airlift aviation, as well as Russian freight air carriers. The Tashkent-based Chkalov Aircraft Production Association has manufactured a total of 930 IL-76s of various modifications.
At the present time the Russian Air Force operates 220-270 IL-76s, with most of them being the IL-76MD modification, which boasts an extended service life. Russian civil air carriers operate about 200 IL-76 aircraft.
The IL-76MD and the IL-76TD transport version are powered by the second-series D-30KP engines with an output of 12 tonnes each. The specific fuel consumption of a D-30KP totals 0.665 kg/kgf.h. The IL-76MD's maximum takeoff weight equals 190 tonnes, with a maximum payload weight totaling 47 tonnes. Its cruising speed is 750-825 kmph, while the airdrop speed is 260 kmph. The aircraft's service range with a standard payload is 4,600 km, while the ferry range is 7,500 km. Its takeoff run/landing roll is 1,680/880 meters respectively.