A Russian Air Force Il-76MD-90A Airborne
Russia is pushing very hard for the sale of the Il-76MD-90A, the latest version of the Il-76 strategic airlifter to China because it is very likely to be the last chance for the nation to export such a large transport aircraft to the Chinese market, according to a Sept. 21 article posted on Beijing-based Sina Military Network.
Yury Slyusar, the president of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation had already expressed Russia's ambition to provide the Il-76MD-90A to China when he was interviewed by Moscow-based Sputnik News previously during the Beijing Aviation Expo held between Sept. 16-19. Slyusar said that it is the most advanced version of the Il-76 transport aircraft ever designed and that he hopes to receive a warm response from China.
He mentioned that Russia is ready to promote the sale of the Il-76MD-90A to the global market including China. The Sina Military Network said that there are three major reasons for Russia to believe that China will purchase the Il-76MD-90A from it. First, it is equipped with the more powerful PS-90A-76 developed by Perm Krai-based Aviadvigatel. It alone makes the Il-76MD-90A better than any of its predecessors.
Secondly, Russia for the first time has the economic capability to produce Il-76 transport aircraft on a massive scale. China is currently the only nation with a market big enough for Russia to export them in a large number. Thirdly, Russia is willing to customize a Chinese version of the Il-76MD-90A aircraft specifically for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. This means that all the indicators inside the cockpit of the Il-76MD-90A for China will be written in Chinese.
The Sina Military Network, however, said that Yuri Slyusar is only interested in doing business with China. As soon as China develops a proper engine such as the WS-20 for its own Y-20 medium-size transport aircraft, the nation will no longer need to purchase any foreign strategic airlifter as it will develop its own.