The Russian Defense Ministry has announced plans to buy more than 100 Ilyushin Il-76 military aircraft before 2030 as part of the massive contract.

According to a statement, the Defense Ministry plans to buy more than 100 Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft before 2030, as well as air tankers developed on their basis.

“This is the main aircraft in Defense Ministry’s plans. Potentially, the Defense Ministry plans to buy more than 100 aircraft, and this number grows if we add flying tankers produced on the basis of this plane,” Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told state news agency TASS on Thursday.

The Russian Defense Ministry will get the first serial Il-76MD-90A military transport plane next week, Russian aircraft manufacturer and design bureau Ilyushin said on Thursday.

“The first serial plane is fully ready. It is expected to be handed over next week,” a company source told reporters.

The company confirmed that no Il-76MD-90A planes have been handed over to the Russian Armed Forces since 2014. Prior to that, the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces received two such aircraft as a pre-production delivery.

According to the current information, It is an upgraded version of the IL-76MD which itself is based on the IL-76 cargo aircraft platform.

The Il-76MD-90A, also known as project Il-476 during the design stage, is developed to transport a range of military equipment, armed personnel, heavy and long size vehicles and cargoes. The latest modification is distinguished by new equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, a modified wing and reinforced chassis. Il-76MD-90A is used to develop Il-78M-90A air tanker.

The 1st serial production Il-76MD-90A was rolled out at Aviastar’s Ulyanovsk plant on 16 June 2014.