Russian aircraft manufacturers have announced delay in the works on the modernization of the fleet of Il-76 transport aircraft and Il-78 aerial tankers of the Russian aerospace forces. Modernized airframes, with indexes “Il-76MDM” and “Il-78-2” are due to receive new on-board digital systems, comparable to the newest Il-76MD-90A (also known as Il-476), instead of current analogue equipment, as well as self-defense suit “President”, capable of jamming rockets with radar and infra guidance.

“Currently, the main package of modernization has been accomplished, delay of the works on “Kuzneck” (code name for Il-76 and Il-78 modernization) has been caught up with, and the aircraft manufacturers are now following the schedule, confirmed earlier”, said the representative of Russian defense industrial complex.  According to his statement, the first flights of modernized airframes should have taken place at the end of 2015, however, there has been a delay, caused by problems with installation of the on-board systems and self-defense suit. Currently, majority of the problems have been dealt with. “There also have been some law issues, which didn´t allow the aircraft manufacturers to send the first airplane for modernization in time”, explained representative of Russian defense industrial complex.

The works on modernization of the first Il-76MD, with fuselage number RF-76746 to the level of Il-76MDM have begun only in the end of 2015. In the February of 2016, the first modernized plane has took off from the flight research institute of M.M. Gromov, and in the May 2016, the specialists of aviation complex of S.V. Ilyushin have started works on first aerial tanker, which will in future carry index “Il-78-2”. According Kuzneck“ project, modernized airplanes will be fitted with new digital on-board systems; specifically navigation, in-flight refueling, connection, which are comparable to equipment of new Il-76MD-90A. The cockpit will have LCD multifunctional displays – so called “glass cockpit”, which will display only important data. The Il-76MDM will also have on-board self-protection system “President”, which not only detects radio-locators of enemy, but also jams them. Also, it protects the airplane with special lasers and infra-red and radar countermeasures. It will retain older D-30KP engines, which will be overhauled, prolonging their resource. The trials of first Il-76MDM should be over by the end of 2017. In case of successful trials, Russian ministry of defense plans to acquire more than 40 pcs by 2020. “The Kuzneck modernization will prolong life of the airplanes by 10-15 years”, says independent military expert Anton LAVROV. “The main advantage of Kuzneck is that it is rather budget version, allowing the Russian military transport fleet to remain combat ready, before being supplied with new Il-76MD-90A”, says LAVROV.