The advanced Il-112V light military-transport aircraft will perform its maiden flight in 2017 and its mass production should be started two years later, Deputy Minister of Defense, Yuri Borisov, told RIA Novosti.
Last summer Ilyushin Company CEO Yuri Yudin said that the aircraft’s maiden flight might take place prior to November 1st2016. He added that the liner’s degree of readiness was “quite high”.
“The aircraft should perform its maiden flight in 2017, — Borisov said. — Upon completion of the state testing in 2019 the Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company (VASO) should start the mass production of the aircraft”.
According to Borisov, who is responsible for procurement of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Ministry is going to purchase “at least 35” Il-112 aircraft. Earlier, before the economic crisis, Yudin was talking about deliveries of 62 aircraft.
Borisov noted that the problem with light military-transport aircraft is a “long-pending one” for Russian air forces.
