Medium military transport aircraft Il 276. Russian aviation. How many of these vehicles will be needed in the army?

25.10.2019

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The new medium military transport aircraft (SVTS) Il-276 is being created in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense. By the end of the year, the military department must approve the tactical and technical specifications for this vehicle. Igor Bevzyuk, program manager at Il PJSC, spoke in an interview with TASS about what characteristics the new aircraft will have, from which airfields it will be able to take off and whether it will have weapons.

- Igor Anatolyevich, please tell us about the background of this project.

The idea of creating an SVTS to replace the obsolete An-12 appeared at the turn of the 80s and 90s of the last century. Already at that time, the Ilyushin Design Bureau had worked out the design of such a machine, but the characteristics of the first design did not yet provide a fundamental separation from other options. The project was postponed for a while.

Let me remind you that at that time the Tupolev Design Bureau and the Antonov Design Bureau actively proposed their own options, after consideration of which the An-70 was adopted as the basis. The history of this aircraft turned out to be a dead end, and at the beginning of the 2000s they returned to the Ilyushin Design Bureau project - especially since India expressed its interest in the joint development of a transport aircraft of this class.

After quite a long period, the requirements for the appearance of the Russian-Indian MTA (Multipurpose Transport Aircraft) aircraft were formed. However, the risks associated with the implementation of part of the requirements led to the “freezing” of this project, although legally the Indians have not yet completely abandoned it.

Be that as it may, the need for a middle-class transport ramp aircraft has not gone away, and has even become more urgent as the An-12 aircraft approach the end of their service life. And the Ilyushin Design Bureau, together with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, developed a draft tactical and technical specification (TTZ) for a medium military transport aircraft.

- Did the Indian side somehow explain this decision?

The set of requirements that were placed on the aircraft led to high degree technical risks. As soon as the degree of novelty in a project exceeds a certain threshold, questions arise related to either the timing of implementation, or the achievability of the declared characteristics, or the price.

Project of a medium military transport aircraft Il-276 / © PJSC "Il"

- After 2015, did you decide to return the project to Russia?

In 2014, the Ilyushin Design Bureau together with the Ministry of Defense proposed to develop technical requirements to SVTS via Russian standards, without taking into account Indian specifics. As a result, the decision was made to create such a machine, and its proactive development began. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed on the draft tactical and technical specifications (TTZ). The working name of the aircraft, which is accepted in design bureau, - IL-276.

- That is, it has not yet been officially approved?

No, the process of coordinating and approving technical specifications at SVTS is currently underway. De jure, the name of the aircraft can be assigned later, as was the case, for example, with the T-50. Our project has not yet received its final proper name.

In December we begin preliminary design of the Il-276. We plan to complete the design work, pre-production and the first flight in the first quarter of 2023, and the completion of the work itself with the assignment of the corresponding letter is 2025 with the start of serial deliveries to the troops in 2026.

The fact is that in Russia the life of the An-12 aircraft is coming to an end. Somewhere in 2023, a massive withdrawal of these machines from combat units will begin, which is why the time to develop a new aircraft, its entry into testing and into mass production remains relatively short.

- What kind of plane will it be? What are its characteristics?

This will be a traditional layout for a military transport aircraft: a single-fuselage high-wing aircraft with a T-shaped empennage, with two engines located under the wing. It will be able to take off from unprepared and unpaved airfields.

This is a ramp aircraft with the possibility of not only loading and unloading operations on the ground, but also the possibility of landing from it. In addition to the main functions that are inherent in military transport aviation, it will have additional functions related to the delivery of cargo during rescue operations, emergency situations, etc.

- In a word, will he take all the best from his “big brother” - Il-76?

Undoubtedly. If we are talking about technical solutions related to the reliability of the aircraft, of course, best solutions We will use them, adapting them to the size of our machine.

- Are the engines the same as on the Il-76?

The engine of the first design is the well-proven PS-90A-76, which has the necessary characteristics to reduce technical risks. And as soon as the PD-14 confirms its characteristics in mass production, it will be used on the Il-276.

- Will the plane be the same in cross-section as the Il-76?

Yes. In this case, the length cargo compartment will be somewhat shorter than the basic modification of the IL-76.

- What is its range and speed?

The speed is about 800 km/h, which is typical for aircraft with turbojet engines. Of course, it significantly exceeds the speed that the An-12 could afford. As a result, the delivery time of a particular cargo will be significantly reduced. At maximum load, its range will be a couple of thousand kilometers, but from the point of view of the ferry option, when it is required to provide maximum range, this is up to seven thousand km.

- Will the IL-276 have a tanker version?

In the basic version we consider it as a typical transport aircraft, but this platform can be used for modernization in a very wide range.

- Does the IL-276 have standard weapons?

Any such aircraft is equipped with onboard defense systems. The Il-276 will also have means to protect the aircraft from external influences.

-Where will it be built?

The Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk is today designated as the lead manufacturer.

Is it still correct to call it a modernization of the Il-76, if the Il-76 combat aircraft are currently being modernized to the MD-M version and new Il-76MD-90A are being created?

These two projects have synergy, and the use of technical solutions in terms of developments in avionics, components and assemblies, of course, will be. But consider it a modification... A two-hundred-ton and a seventy-ton machine are still different things. Even with the visual similarity of some design elements, in many respects this is a new car.

- Il-112 does not overlap with this project?

IL-112 is a promising light aircraft. The IL-276 is located just between the light IL-112 and the heavy IL-76. Developed for IL-112 a large number of completely new equipment, the reserves for which will definitely be used.

How is the process of designing a new aircraft going?

We try to make the most of the opportunities that digital design provides. Key moment- starting from the stage preliminary design coordinate all the requirements related not only to design developments, but also to the development of manufacturability of this design, production preparation, logistics requirements, as well as requirements related to the maintenance and operation of this aircraft. This allows you to find and correct all the shortcomings at the earliest stages, reducing the time it takes to enter mass production.

And of course, we pay special attention to development for a given cost, this applies not only to the product as a whole, but to each technical solution. This approach ensures not only transparency of pricing, but also compliance with the price-quality parameter, which is especially important in the current economic conditions. In advanced design bureaus, this has already become a daily practice, which has made it possible to arrive at a specific numerical parameter, namely, correcting an error identified at the design stage costs 1 USD; the same error, identified during production, already costs 10 USD; at the stage final assembly the price of correcting an error increases to 100 USD, and at the testing and operation stage it is already 1000 USD or more.

- Has the team already been formed?

The team is being formed right now. Today, the Ilyushin Design Bureau has several major programs underway simultaneously, and we are, of course, very interested in attracting both experienced and novice specialists to create an aircraft with world-class performance by applying advanced development practices.

Topic: Medium military transport aircraft (SVTS) Il-214

A new medium military transport aircraft (SVTS) is being created in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense. By the end of the year, the military department must approve the tactical and technical specifications for this vehicle. Igor Bevzyuk, program manager at Il PJSC, spoke in an interview with TASS about what characteristics the new aircraft will have, from which airfields it will be able to take off and whether it will have weapons.

Igor Anatolyevich, please tell us about the background of this project.

Be that as it may, the need for a middle-class transport ramp aircraft has not gone away, and has even become more urgent as the An-12 aircraft approaches the end of their service life. And the Ilyushin Design Bureau, together with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, developed a draft tactical and technical specification (TTZ) for a medium military transport aircraft.

Did the Indian side somehow explain this decision?

The set of requirements that were placed on the aircraft led to a high degree of technical risks. As soon as the degree of novelty in a project exceeds a certain threshold, questions arise related to either the timing of implementation, or the achievability of the declared characteristics, or the price.

After 2015, did they decide to return the project to Russia?

The working name of the aircraft is Il-276

In 2014, the Ilyushin Design Bureau, together with the Ministry of Defense, proposed to develop technical requirements for SVTS according to Russian standards, without taking into account Indian specifics. As a result, the decision was made to create such a machine, and its proactive development began. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed on the draft tactical and technical specifications (TTZ). The working name of the aircraft, which was adopted by the design bureau, is Il-276.

So it hasn't been officially approved yet?

No, the process of coordination and approval of technical specifications at SVTS is currently underway. De jure, the name of the aircraft can be assigned later, as was the case, for example, with the T-50. Our project has not yet received its final proper name.

In Russia, the An-12 is nearing the end of its service life. Somewhere in 2023, a massive removal of these vehicles from combat units will begin.

The fact is that in Russia the life of the An-12 aircraft is coming to an end. Somewhere in 2023, a massive withdrawal of these aircraft from combat units will begin, which is why the time to develop a new aircraft, its entry into testing and into mass production remains relatively short.

What kind of plane will it be? What are its characteristics?

This will be a traditional layout for a military transport aircraft: a single-fuselage high-wing aircraft (the pattern of attaching the wing to the fuselage when it passes through the upper half of its cross-section - TASS note) with a T-shaped tail, with two engines located under the wing. It will be able to take off from unprepared and unpaved airfields.

This is a ramp aircraft with the ability not only for loading and unloading operations on the ground, but also for landing from it. In addition to the main functions that are inherent in military transport aviation, it will have additional functions related to the delivery of cargo during rescue operations, emergency situations, etc.

In a word, will he take all the best from his “big brother” - Il-76?

Undoubtedly. If we are talking about technical solutions related to the reliability of the aircraft, of course, we will use the best solutions, adapting them to the size of our machine.

Are the engines the same as on the Il-76?

Will the cross-section of the plane be the same as the Il-76?

Yes. At the same time, the length of the cargo compartment will be slightly shorter than the basic modification of the Il-76.

What is its range and speed?

The speed is about 800 km/h, which is typical for aircraft with turbojet engines. Of course, it significantly exceeds the speed that the An-12 could afford. As a result, the delivery time of a particular cargo will be significantly reduced. At maximum load, its range will be a couple of thousand kilometers, but from the point of view of the ferry version, when it is necessary to ensure maximum range, it is up to seven thousand km.

Will the IL-276 be a tanker version?

In the basic version we consider it as a typical transport aircraft, but this platform can be used for modernization in a very wide range.

Does the IL-276 have standard weapons?

Any such aircraft is equipped with onboard defense systems. The Il-276 will also have means to protect the aircraft from external influences.

Where will it be built?

The Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk is today designated as the lead manufacturer.

Is it still correct to call it a modernization of the Il-76, if the Il-76 combat aircraft are currently being modernized to the MD-M version and new Il-76MD-90A are being created?

Il-112 does not overlap with this project?

Il-112 is a promising light aircraft. The IL-276 is located just between the light IL-112 and the heavy IL-76. A large amount of completely new equipment is being developed for the IL-112, the backlog of which will definitely be used.

How is the design process for a new aircraft going?

We try to make the most of the opportunities that digital design provides. The key point is to link, starting from the preliminary design stage, all the requirements related not only to design developments, but also to the development of manufacturability of this design, production preparation, logistics requirements, as well as requirements related to the maintenance and operation of this aircraft. This allows you to find and correct all the shortcomings at the earliest stages, reducing the time it takes to enter mass production.

And of course, we pay special attention to development for a given cost; this applies not only to the product as a whole, but also to each technical solution. This approach ensures not only transparency of pricing, but also compliance with the price-quality parameter, which is especially important in the current economic conditions. In advanced design bureaus, this has already become a daily practice, which has made it possible to arrive at a specific numerical parameter, namely, correcting an error identified at the design stage costs 1 USD; the same error, identified during production, already costs 10 USD; at the stage of final assembly, the price of correcting an error increases to 100 USD, and at the stage of testing and operation it is already 1000 USD or more.

Has the team already been formed?

How many of these vehicles will the troops need?

According to preliminary estimates, in the next decade, the troops will need to replace several dozen An-12s. In general, the demand for such aircraft in Russia and the world is great, and we are confident that the Il-276 will find its place in the sky and will become an indispensable “hard worker aircraft.”

Interviewed by Anna Yudina

Another drink. IMHO, the Tu-330 is much more interesting as a project, at least due to the larger volume of the cargo compartment.

According to the TsAGI press service, in October of this year the Institute completed the next cycle of tests in the wind tunnel (WT) of the T-102 model of a medium transport aircraft (STS) for short take-off and landing. The work was carried out under a government contract with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Studies of the STS model in wind tunnels were carried out near a fixed screen simulating the influence of the earth. Institute specialists examined the impact of engine failure on the aerodynamic characteristics, stability and controllability of the aircraft.

Based on the analysis of information distributed on the Internet, it can be assumed that the TsAGI ADT was blowing a model of what is currently being developed at the Design Bureau named after. S.V.Ilyushin medium military transport aircraft (MTC), the project of which has the working designation Il-276. The first flight of the medium-sized military-technical aircraft Il-276, previously known as the Russian-Indian MTA (Multipurpose Transport Aircraft) project, is planned for 2023. In 2017, it was planned to allocate 3 billion rubles for the Il-276 project.

It is worth saying that at first there was a project for the medium-sized military-technical vehicle Il-214, then the MTA project was born. In 2014, OKB im. S.V. Ilyushina proposed the Russian Ministry of Defense to develop technical requirements for
SVTS according to Russian standards, without taking into account the specifics of the MTA project, which is currently frozen. In 2016, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed on the draft tactical and technical specifications for the promising SVTS.
Specialists of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky (part of the Research Center "Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky") completed the next stage of testing the model of the medium military transport aircraft Il-276. The work was carried out in the TsAGI transonic wind tunnel under a contract with PJSC Il.

On at this stage The purpose of the research was to study the aerodynamic characteristics of a model aircraft with a mechanized wing in cruising and takeoff and landing configurations. The tests reproduced takeoff and landing modes with both slats and flaps retracted and extended. As a result Institute scientists determined the aerodynamic characteristics when the elements of takeoff and landing mechanization and controls are deflected.

This year it is planned to study the aerodynamic characteristics of a model aircraft with a powered wing in a low-speed wind tunnel, including near a screen simulating the runway surface.

Il-276 is a project of a twin-engine medium military transport aircraft that provides transportation of a wide range of cargo weighing up to 20 tons over a distance of 2000 km at a speed of 750–800 km/h. It is possible to operate the aircraft from high-mountain airfields and base it on artificial and unpaved runways in various geographical and climatic conditions, at any time of the day, in simple and adverse weather conditions.
The Technodinamika holding of the Rostec State Corporation has begun to develop proposals for the creation of takeoff and landing devices for the Il-276 medium military transport aircraft. All stages of work on the creation of equipment, at the proposal of the participant, will be carried out on the basis of the Samara enterprise “Aviaagregat”. In the next year and a half, it is necessary to implement the stages of sketch and technical projects.

Preliminary design of the aircraft will begin in 2017. Work on design documentation within the framework of R&D will be carried out from the creation of preliminary and technical designs to obtaining a license to transfer the product into serial production.

“Today, the medium multi-purpose Il-276 is one of the most anticipated and in demand military transport aircraft for Russian army,” said Igor Nasenkov, General Director of Technodinamika. “The machine is designed in such a way as to be unpretentious to the condition of runways and easily land and take off even from unprepared surfaces.”

Technodinamika proposes to equip the takeoff and landing devices for the Il-276 with units based on durable titanium alloys and a squatting system that allows reducing the distance between the fuselage and the ground when loading and unloading the aircraft.

“Since 2026, our Samara enterprise Aviaagregat has been considering the possibility of participating in the production of serial samples of takeoff and landing devices for the Il-276. At this stage, we are targeting 12 vehicles annually,” noted Igor Nasenkov.

The main characteristics of the Il-276 aircraft have already been determined. It is expected that it will replace the An-12 and An-72 - aircraft that have traditionally been considered the basis of Russian military transport aviation.

Salo
There has been no such Io-214 project for a long time

This could be a completely different project.

This is where we need to go for discussion.

The average military transport aircraft that is currently in service with the Russian army is the An-12 four-engine turboprop aircraft, developed in the USSR in the second half of the 50s of the last century.

The vehicles were widely used to transport troops during the liquidation of consequences emergency situations, in landing and search and rescue operations. They were exported to several dozen countries around the world and participated in military operations in Africa, Afghanistan and the territory of the former USSR.

In 1972, these planes delivered humanitarian aid to the Republic of Bangladesh, food and mail to the North Pole-18 polar station in 1969, Soviet troops to Afghan Bagram in 1986, participated in the air parade at Domodedovo airport in 1967.

According to the first deputy general director PJSC "Il" Pavel Cherenkov, now the troops have about 70 vehicles, but in good condition much less. The aircraft's service life is 55 years, and by 2027-2028 it will expire, and in less than eight years the Ministry of Defense should be able to begin replacing the An-12s that are ending their operation with another aircraft.

The Ilyushin Design Bureau returned to the project of a medium transport aircraft with a payload capacity of 20-30 tons in the early 2000s; India’s interest in the joint development of a transport aircraft of this class also played a role here.

The joint project received the working name MTA - Multipurpose Transport Aircraft. A contract was signed with India for the joint development and production of this aircraft.

Work progressed slowly, only in 2014 was the draft tactical and technical specification for a new transport aircraft ready, but its approval did not take place, and the following year, for a number of reasons, India withdrew from the project.

However, the need for an aircraft remained. In 2017, the aircraft first received the working name Il-214, and later - Il-276. A contract for development work was signed and preliminary design of the aircraft began.

An-12 at the North Pole

Il-276 is being created in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The first flight of the new medium-sized transport aircraft is planned for 2023, and serial deliveries to the troops will begin in 2026. The tactical and technical specifications agreed upon by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UAC are being approved by the Ministry of Defense.

The idea of creating a medium military transport aircraft with a payload capacity of 20–30 tons appeared in the late 1980s. Then the project was called Il-88. The Ilyushin Design Bureau worked out the appearance of the vehicle, but the project was postponed because the characteristics of the designed aircraft did not provide a fundamental separation from other options that were designed at the Tupolev Design Bureau - Tu-330 and at the Antonov Design Bureau - An-70.

Pavel Cherenkov explained that after all the proposed options were considered, the An-70 received the greatest recognition. He was attracted by the large cabin - about four meters. In 1996, the aircraft was demonstrated at the Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after O.K. Antonov, in 1997 at the Moscow Air Show he was exhibited at a static exposition for review by specialists, at MAKS-2003 he took part in the flight program, and I must say, the flights of the An-70 made a very strong impression.

However, the deterioration of Russian-Ukrainian relations after 2004 brought this project to a dead end.

The An-12 is a cantilever high-wing aircraft with a single-fin vertical tail. The aircraft is equipped with four uprated AI-20M turboprop engines with four-bladed left-hand rotation propellers. The cargo compartment of the aircraft, unlike the Il-276, is not pressurized.

The An-12 was armed with two 23 mm cannons with 700 rounds of ammunition and aerial bombs of various calibers. There is no information on the armament of the Il-276, since this issue is within the competence of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Pavel Cherenkov says that from 70 to 90 percent of cargo transportation by Il-276 type aircraft is carried out either on a container or in boxes, and the transfer of troops over 2000 km by such aircraft is not done due to inexpediency. “It is, of course, possible to transport one infantry fighting vehicle, but it will not solve any combat mission there,” explains the deputy general director of Ilyushin. “For training and landing, yes, but for the transport of troops, heavy vehicles such as Il-76 and An are used.” 124".

The military transport Il-276 will be located between the new light Il-112V and the heavy Il-76MD-90A and will be equipped with equipment based on Russian components, from domestic components.

Onboard complex concept radio-electronic equipment(avionics) provides for the possibility of modernization and expansion of functions thanks to an open architecture. A single information and control “field” of the cockpit will combine six multifunctional LCD displays and two LCD indicators on the windshield.

A special feature of the aircraft is the maximum use of avionics solutions, which are used on the Il-76, the Il-112V, and the passenger MS-21. This assumes that the information display system will be unified as much as possible so that crew retraining takes place in the shortest possible time.

The cross-sectional dimensions of the Il-276 pressurized cargo compartment are identical to the dimensions of the Il-76MD-90A aircraft, which allows the use of the entire existing infrastructure of loading, unloading, transportation and landing equipment. In terms of loading and unloading equipment, these are suspended lifting devices with electric drive, carts and ladders, will be borrowed from either the Il-76 or the Il-112V.

In the future, it is planned to further develop the Il-276 by creating on its basis modifications of a radar patrol and guidance aircraft, a command air post, an ambulance aircraft, a search and rescue aircraft and a tanker aircraft.

The development of the IL-276 is carried out precisely with an eye to the requirements of the military customer. According to the developers, the state is ready and able to buy 12 such machines per year. Therefore, according to preliminary estimates, until 2033–2034, Ilyushin’s company will be able to provide only the Russian military with a medium transport aircraft.

“In general, the demand for such aircraft in Russia and the world is great, and we are confident that the Il-276 will find its place in the sky and become an indispensable “hard worker aircraft,” summed up Pavel Cherenkov.

They plan to purchase Il-276 medium military transport aircraft. The new product will be capable of transporting several combat vehicles or up to a hundred soldiers over a distance of five to six thousand kilometers. At the same time, the IL-276 will be able to do without runways - it can easily land and take off from ordinary soil. The machine is being created on the basis of the unrealized joint Russian-Indian project of the multi-role transport aircraft MTA (Multi-role Transport Aircraft).

According to experts, the military is in dire need of Il-276 to replace a fleet of obsolete Soviet-built transport aircraft. In addition, the new product may be of interest to foreign buyers, primarily from among Russia’s traditional partners.

As Izvestia was told at the main command of the Aerospace Forces, the military department is currently negotiating with aircraft manufacturers. In particular, the timing and program for the creation of the IL-276 are discussed. But it is already clear that the military needs at least 55 vehicles.

JSC Ilyushin confirmed to Izvestia that negotiations with the military are underway. But they declined to comment further.

An intergovernmental agreement on the joint development and construction of the MTA aircraft was signed by Moscow and New Delhi in 2007. Three years later, the Russian United Aircraft Corporation and the Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a basic agreement. The aircraft was expected to make its first flight in 2017. Subsequently, the deadlines were shifted several times. And at the end of 2015, the Indian side announced its withdrawal from the project.

But in September 2016, Ilyushin representatives announced that the medium military transport aircraft (SVTS) project would be continued. And in June of this year, the SVTS received the official name Il-276 (previously in the Russian media the MTA-SVTS project was called Il-214).

Il-276 is a twin-engine jet aircraft with a take-off weight of just over 60 tons. The machine is capable of flying 6 thousand km at a speed of more than 800 km/h. At the same time, the “two hundred and seventy-sixth” easily manages without runways. It is capable of taking off and landing on the ground.

Independent military expert Anton Lavrov believes that the Il-276 will be in great demand by the Russian military.

In the future, it will replace all those transport vehicles that have not been produced since the times of the USSR - An-12, An-72, An-32,” the specialist explained. - This aircraft will be equipped with engines from the modernized Il-76. They are well mastered by industry. This will greatly speed up the process of fine-tuning the aircraft and putting it into service.

The IL-276 will have significantly less takeoff and fuel consumption, the expert noted. - It will be useful for transporting light equipment and people. The transportation of supplies to remote garrisons, especially in the Arctic, is in great demand. Also, electronic warfare and electronic reconnaissance aircraft will probably be created on its basis. And if desired, you can make a flying laboratory and even a passenger plane to transport command.

Chief Editor magazine "Arms Export" Andrei Frolov noted in an interview with Izvestia that there is a demand for medium military transport aircraft on the world market.

The Russian development may well be of interest to traditional buyers of our military products. But here a lot will depend on the timing,” the expert explained. - The IL-276 will have strong competitors. Medium transport aircraft with turbojet engines are already being offered for export by Brazilian and Chinese manufacturers.

Currently, the Russian military department's fleet includes 40 medium military transport An-72s and more than a hundred An-12s.

October 31, 2017 most leading funds mass media published an interview with the program manager at Il PJSC, Igor Bevzyuk, in which he stated that the start of flight tests of the aircraft with the tentative name Il-276 is planned for 2023. What kind of aircraft this is and why so much attention is paid to it will be discussed in this article.

History of the aircraft

Back in 1959, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant launched the development series of the O.K. Antonov ASTC. For more than half a century, this unpretentious hard worker has participated in all significant events not only in our country, but throughout the world.

He was rightfully considered the best transport worker on the planet. About sixty of these aircraft are still in service, and 46 are mothballed. But the service life of an obsolete centenarian is not endless. The development of a new ramp transporter has become increasingly urgent.

Back in the 80s, the Ilyushin Design Bureau began to develop a prototype of the future aircraft, but it did not stand out in any way among similar projects from the Tupolev and Antonov Design Bureaus.

It was decided to give preference to the creation of the An-70. But these developments reached a dead end and we had to return to the Ilyushin concept, especially against the backdrop of interest in this topic in New Delhi. In 2001, a Russian-Indian protocol was signed on the joint development of MTA (Multipurpose Transport Aircraft), as this promising aircraft was then called.

The plans were for its simultaneous adoption into service in Russia and India. During the work, it became clear that the requests made by the Indian side carried unjustified risks. Collaboration did not work out, and the Indians left the project.

In 2014, on instructions from the Ministry of Defense, the Ilyushin Design Bureau began work on a medium military transport aircraft exclusively according to the standards adopted in the Russian Federation.

The preliminary design of the Il-276 will begin in December 2017. Under this name the design bureau will work on a new aircraft. It is possible that ready product will receive a different name. Plans for 2026 include deliveries of the first copies to the troops, and test flights for 2023.

Planned use of IL-276

The Il-276 ramp transport aircraft is being created for the needs of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The word in the name “ramp” means that the fuselage is equipped with a mechanized hatch in the rear section.

The hatch cover will be able to lower to the surface of the earth for loading large cargo and military or civilian equipment. Experts believe that up to 80% of transportation in the interests of the armed forces will be carried out by the Il-276.

It is planned to be used for:

landing of airborne units;
providing ammunition, weapons and other supplies to troops behind enemy lines;
ensuring the movement of aviation units;
transportation of troops, weapons, ammunition and other cargo of the Ministry of Defense;
evacuation of sick and wounded;
use in rescue operations;
assistance to peacekeepers.

The ability to use unpaved airfields will make this model simply indispensable for all of the above tasks. It is believed that the aircraft being created will be best assistant in the Arctic.

The platform of the base model Il-276 is going to be used for deep modernization for different needs. And import orders should be added to the currently required 55 aircraft for the Russian Armed Forces.

Planned performance characteristics of the Il-276

Traditionally configured single-fuselage high-wing aircraft with a T-shaped tail and two engines.

The aircraft will have the following performance characteristics:

Crew – 3 (4) people.
Load capacity – up to 20 tons.
The length of the aircraft is 37.7 m (40.235 m).
Wingspan - 32.25 m (39.37 m).
Height – 12.51 m.
Maximum take-off weight – 68 t (72 t).
The capacity of internal fuel tanks is 2.5 tons.
Engines – 2 × PS-90A-76
Thrust – 2 × 17400 kgf

The engines are planned to be placed under the wings. Initially, it is planned to equip the aircraft with engines for the Il-76 (PS-90A-76), and subsequently it is planned to install the PD-14.

The development of these engines was carried out during the creation of the MS-21 airliner. There is information that after the PD-14, a more powerful version based on the engine gas generator (PD-18R) will be installed.

During development, all the best will be taken into account and used.

This will allow you to achieve the following flight performance:

Maximum speed– 870 km/h.
Cruising speed - 800 km/h.
Flight range with maximum load is 2000 km.
Ferry range – 7300 km.
High altitude ceiling – 12000 m
Take-off run length is 1450 m.
The length of the landing run is 1350 m.

Airplanes with turboprop engines have the speed indicated in the flight characteristics. It is much higher than the speed of the An-12, which reduces cargo delivery time and reduces the cost of transportation.

In addition, the cost of operating the transporter being created will be noticeably lower than that of its legendary predecessor.

Design features of the IL-276

Being the most modernly equipped enterprise, Ilyushin Design Bureau uses only modern digital design. This allows us to take into account all the design nuances, logistical wishes and production organization even at the preliminary design stage.

Correcting an error during such a design costs 10 times less than when launching into series, 100 times less than at the final installation stage, and 1000 times less than one discovered at the beginning of testing.

Special attention addresses the given cost and ensures the optimal price-quality ratio. Only this approach will allow us to win competition from Chinese and Brazilian manufacturers, who are already offering expert samples of aircraft of this class.

By the way, it is planned to place orders for the production of the Il-276 product at the Aviastar enterprise in Ulyanovsk, where the Il-76MD-90A is currently being produced.

A new product with such characteristics, capable of occupying a niche between small transport aircraft and heavy aircraft like the Il-76, is highly anticipated in the army.