Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) – a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec State Corporation – announced on May 30 that it has delivered another Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A Candid heavy-lift strategic transport to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD).

According to the UAC the aircraft (serial unknown) is one of several Il-76MD-90As that are due to be delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) this year, with this latest example being handed over to the Russian MOD on schedule after completing a series of ground and flight tests. It remains unclear as to which RuAF unit this newly delivered Il-76MD-90A will be operated by.

This new Il-76MD-90A was manufactured by PJSC II Aviastar – a subsidiary of the UAC – with the platform being made from domestically developed parts. The UAC added that the other Il-76MD-90As that are due for delivery this year “are in production by Aviastar in varying degrees of readiness,” as Aviastar “continues to increase its production capacity.” According to the UAC, PJSC II Aviastar is investing resources into its Candid production line, improving its factories with large-scale technical re-equipment, recruiting more personnel – with plans to increase numbers by more than 1,300 people – and improving staff salaries.

The Il-76MD-90A is the latest and most advanced variant of Russia’s widely used Candid family of heavy-lift strategic transport aircraft. In comparison with its predecessors, the Il-76MD-90A boasts an increased operational flight range and overall cargo capacity. The type has also been fitted with more accurate navigation and landing systems, along with an improved radio communications suite. A delivery schedule for the remaining Il-76MD-90As that are due to be handed over this year remains unknown.