The Russian aviation industry has faced challenges since the majority of Western nations imposed sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine.
Airbus and Boeing were the primary suppliers of aircraft for commercial operations, but, with the sanctions, operating these aircraft has become an increasingly significant challenge.
To circumvent this problem, Russian IL-96 aircraft are being upgraded to serve as an alternative for airlines, once they have been certified for defensive use and other general aviation purposes. In this context, the IL-96 family modernization project has given rise to the IL-96-400M prototype, which is preparing for its maiden flight after leaving the hangar last week.
Both the interior and exterior of the aircraft have undergone a design overhaul. Since February 2017, the IL-96-400M has been developed based on the IL-96-400. It is 9.65 meters longer than the IL-96-300 and has the capacity to carry up to 402 passengers a maximum distance of 8,750 kilometers. It is equipped with four PS-90A1 engines.
With these features, the Russian company UAC hopes that it will be competitive against the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777, although it remains to be seen how much more efficient a four-engine aircraft can be compared to Western jets.
More on the IL-96 Family
The IL-96 aircraft was designed at the Ilyushin Design Bureau in the late 1980s. Now, it has been produced in limited series in Voronezh since 1993 and is primarily used for government flights.
In April, the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, reported that the production of the IL-96-300 would not be on a large scale. And the head of United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec), Yuri Slyusar, specified that the production of the IL-96-300 is planned at a rate of two aircraft per year. Slyusar noted that airlines have fairly modest expectations for the demand for this aircraft.
In January, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that the updated IL-96-400M is expected to make its first flight before the end of the year. The aircraft received a fuselage extended by 9 meters and a modernized digital flight and navigation system.
