Ilyushin IL-76MD-90A is a new military transport aircraft (code name: IL-476) developed by Ilyushin Aviation Complex, a subsidiary of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
It is a modernised version of the IL-76MD which itself was based on the IL-76 cargo aircraft platform. The first Il-76MD-90A prototype, which was rolled out in December 2011, performed its maiden flight in September 2012.
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IL-76MD-90A was developed to transport military equipment, armed personnel, heavy and long size vehicles and cargoes, apart from airdrop missions.
Orders and deliveries of the Russian military transport aircraft
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a $4bn contract with UAC for the delivery of 39 IL-76MD-90A aircraft, in October 2012. The aircraft are currently under various stages of construction at the Aviastar-SP production facility in Ulyanovsk.
The factory test flight of the first aircraft with the serial number 0108 was concluded in January 2013, followed by a maiden flight test in March 2013, near Moscow. It flew at altitudes of 2,000m to 10,000m for a period of one hour and 55 minutes during the test flight. It was delivered to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2015.
The first serial IL-76MD-90A aircraft with the serial number 0109 was delivered to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in April 2019. A total of four aircraft were delivered by October 2019.
For the first time, Aviastar began implementing new stackless technology for aircraft fuselage assembly in August 2020.
IL-76MD-90A design, based on the IL-76
The IL-76MD-90A was based on the same airframe and fuselage of IL-76 aircraft. The cargo aircraft integrates advanced features such as redesigned wing section, new cockpit with modern avionics and powerful engines.
The aircraft has a length of 46.6m, height of 14.76m, wingspan of 50.50m and a wing area (trapezoidal) of 300m². The landing gear track (outer wheels) and fuselage mid-section diameter of the aircraft are 8.16m and 4.8m respectively.
The IL-76MD-90A has a maximum take-off weight of 210t and can carry a maximum payload of 52t. It can accommodate up to five crew members.
Cockpit and avionics of the Ilyushin aircraft
The advanced glass cockpit of the IL-76MD-90A has three intelligent control panels and a KSEIS-KN-76 aircraft status master monitor display system with eight multifunctional liquid crystal displays. The glass cabin provides better view to the cabin crew.
The aircraft avionics include a digital ACS-76 auto flight control system and a new Kupol-III-76M flight sight navigation system with a display indication.
IL-76MD-90A cargo handling capabilities
The cargo cabin of the aircraft is designed with a length of 24.5m (with ramp), width of 3.45m, and height of 3.4m. The cargo cabin offers an interior volume of 321m³.
Il-76MD-90A can carry 126 parachutists or 145 troops in single deck arrangement and 225 troops in double-deck arrangement. It can also house special equipment to carry 114 injured persons.
The aircraft carries an aerial-delivery system (ADS) for dropping of cargoes, transportation of armed forces cargo containers and pallets, and troop parachutes.
The ADS installed onboard the IL-76MD-90A facilitates dropping of parachutists from an altitude of 8,000m at 220km/h to 400km/h speeds. It also enables equipment dropping with the help of parachutes from altitudes of 300m to 4,000m at 260km/h to 400km/h speeds.
The cargo dropping system aboard the aircraft ensures the dropping of platforms laden with shipments and equipment. The under-ladder devices, roller ways and winches in the cabin allow the loading of cargoes and equipment into the aircraft.
Engine of Russia’s Ilyushin military cargo aircraft
IL-76MD-90A was installed with four fourth generation PS-90A-76 turbofan bypass engines with 4:4 bypass ratios. Each engine develops a maximum continuous thrust of 14,500kgf. It consumes 12% lesser fuel and offers an increased flight range of 18%.
The PS-90A-76 engine on board the aircraft is compliant with latest ICAO requirements for noise and emission levels. An auxiliary power unit (APU) TA-12A was also installed onboard the aircraft.
Performance of the IL-76MD-90A
The transport aircraft can cruise at a speed of 820-850km/h and can fly at a maximum altitude of 12,000m. The maximum range of the aircraft is 8,500km. The aircraft requires 1,700m take-off distance on concrete runway.
The life expectancy of the IL-76MD-90A military transport aircraft is 30 years. The aircraft can accumulate a maximum of 30,000 flying hours throughout its service life.
