Patrol aircraft for Russian air forces may be derived from Il-114 passenger liner (Russia is going to resume its production), RIA Novosti reports with reference to the member of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of Russia, Mikhail Kashtan.

“Among our primary objectives are: resuming the mass production of Il-114 aircraft, developing patrol aircraft derived from Il-114 for the state aviation – air forces and Federal Border Service,” Kashtan said at a solemn ceremony dedicated to 90th anniversary of the legendary aircraft designer Genrikh Novozhilov.

Il-114 turboprop was developed by Ilyushin design bureau in late 1980s for regional carriers in USSR. According to some sources, less than 20 vehicles of the type have been manufactured. Several military and civil versions of the aircraft were developed later.

Last August President of Russia Vladimir Putin instructed the government, the Ministry of Defense and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to Privolzhsky Federal District to estimate the cost of a project for launching mass production of Il-114 aircraft at Aviacor aviation plant (Samara). Experts told RIA Novosti that the vehicle needs significant upgrade; in particular, the engines and all the avionics must be replaced.