Ilyushin design bureau will develop a version of Il-114 aircraft fitted with ski and wheel landing gear; the vehicle will be operated in the Arctic Region, RIA Novosti reports with reference to Ilyushin Company Chief Designer Sergey Gromov.

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) presented a prototype of the upgraded Il-114 (patrol aircraft version) intended for national security and law enforcement agencies at Army-2015 forum.

“We see Il-114 as not only passenger aircraft, but also as a transport platform. The program for development of the Arctic Region for the period until 2020 includes three Il-114 aircraft fitted with ski and wheel landing gear, which is being developed by Gidromash (Nizhny Novgorod),” Gromov said.

He added that the upgraded aircraft will be designated Il-114-300 and will be manufactured in the network of a program for import substitution – it will be produced in Russia using only Russian-produced components.

According to Gromov, the aircraft will be used for performing flights between Russian stations located in the Arctic Region; at present vehicles delivered from Canada are operated there, because “Russia has no suitable analogues”.

The Chief Designer also explained that 4 versions of Il-114-300 would be developed. The basic one is a passenger version; its deliveries should be started in 2019. Cargo and Arctic versions will be derived from the passenger one as well as the patrol aircraft, whose prototype was showcased at Army-2015 forum.