With its modern design and high versatility, the IL-96-400TZ passenger aircraft is a strong candidate for the new generation of aerial refueling platform.
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Sputnik news agency quoted Ilyushin's Deputy Chief Designer - Olga Kruglyakova as saying that in the near future, the IL-96-400TZ passenger aircraft will likely be developed into military transport variants similar to some other commercial aircraft that have been converted in the world. Photo source: fishki.net. |
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According to Kruglyakova, Russian President Vladimir Putin himself asked Ilyushin to develop an aerial refueling variant of the Ilyushin IL-96 to equip the Russian Air Force. This role is currently being burdened by the wings of the Ilyushin IL-76 heavy military transport aircraft. Photo source: cavok.com |
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In addition to being used by domestic Russian airlines, the Ilyushin IL-96 is also one of the favorite aircraft of the Russian government and Ministry of Defense, including a few used as private planes for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Therefore, the choice of the IL-96 or IL-96-400TZ as a new military transport aircraft is not too strange. Photo source: sdelanounas.ru |
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Since 2015, Ilyushin has ordered the Voronezh aircraft plant to build two prototypes of a new aerial refueling aircraft on the basis of the IL-96-400TZ for the Russian Air Force, and the first prototype is currently undergoing preliminary testing. The IL-96-400TZ itself is also more suitable for this task than the IL-76. Photo source: fishki.net |
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Meanwhile, the second IL-96-400TZ aerial refueling prototype will enter production in 2018 after the first one completes Russian state tests. The final step is to put this variant into mass production. Photo source: skyships.ru |
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According to the design, an IL-96-400TZ aerial refueling tanker can carry up to 65 tons of jet fuel and has a range of up to 3,500 km. It is equipped with the standard Zvezda UPAZ-1 refueling nozzle system, which is also equipped on the IL-78 refueling aircraft. Photo source: nevskii-bastion |
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It is expected that if approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Air Force will order at least 30 IL-96-400TZs, including not only aerial refueling variants but also military transport aircraft, airborne command centers and some special aircraft variants. In the photo is an IL-78 with the Zvezda UPAZ-1 refueling system added to the rear of the aircraft. Photo source: Wikimedia |
According to Kienthuc.net