Ilyushin Design Bureau will work to develop a new medium military transport aircraft for replacing Antonov An-12.

A new medium military transport aircraft is being created in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, said Igor Bevziuk, program manager at PJSC “Il”.

The new aircraft, called the Il-276, is a strategic-tactical middle-sized military transport airplane; it provides for the transportation of a wide range of various cargo.

“Since December we are proceeding to the outline design of the IL-276. Completion of design work, preparation of production and the first departure we plan in the first quarter of 2023, and the completion of the work itself with the appropriation of the relevant letter is 2025 with the beginning of serial deliveries to the troops in 2026,” said Igor Bevziuk.

The first aircraft are supposed to be equipped with PS-90A-76 engines, in the future, the aircraft can get a new engine model PD-14. Production of new aircraft will be started at the Aviastar Plant in Ulyanovsk

Considering the high export potential of the airplane, its design process accommodates not only specifications from the Russian but also the requirements of potential customers.

The new transport airplane is expected to become an alternative not only to the An-12 and C-130 “Hercules,” but also to the much smaller An-26, in emerging countries in 2015-2020.