Russia’s Ilyushin Il-112 Transport Aircraft To Make Maiden Flight In 2017

Russia's Ilyushin Il-112 military transport aircraft, which will replace Antonov An-26, is scheduled to make Its maiden flight in 2017.

The light aircraft's mass production is expected to be launched in 2019, Sputnik reported Thursday.

The Ilyushin Aviation Complex (JSC IL) developed twin-engine turboprop plane will be manufactured by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association at an aircraft plant in Voronezh, Moscow.

Russia's Ministry of Defense plans to purchase at least 35 Ilyushin Il-112 planes. Earlier, JSC IL said the company was ready to deliver more than 60 Il-112 aircraft to the military.

The transport plane is designed to carry out missions in any geographic or weather conditions. It has a payload of 6 tons and can travel a maximum distance of 5,000 kilometers (3100 miles). The project, launched over a decade ago, was canceled in 2011, but the work on the Il-112 resumed in 2013.

The Ilyushin Il-112 is developed for air landing and airdrop of military cargoes, equipment and personnel. The IL-112V can fulfill the assigned missions in any geographic and weather conditions, day and night, standard or adverse weather conditions.