The proposed military transport aircraft regiment to be created in Ulyanovsk by 2018 will get about 30 Il-76MD-90A (NATO reporting name: Candid) planes, according to Sergey Dementiev, director general of the Russian aircraft manufacturer Aviastar-SP.

"The regiment, planned to be created in 2017-2018, will get at least about 30 Il-76MD-90A aircraft", Dementiev said. He pointed out, that the regiment would be located at Ulyanovsk-Vostochny airport.

"The unit will be equipped with batch-produced Il-76MD-90As for the most part. First aircraft (number 0109) to be delivered since 2017 will be adapted for the regiment`s basic structure", the director general added.

Previously it was reported, that the flight operation of the first Il-76MD-90A had been started at the Ivanovo military-transportt aircraft training center.

Il-76MD-90A is a highly upgraded version of the Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) plane. Its advanced attitude and heading reference, automatic control and communications systems have enhanced flight safety, pilotage and airborne landing accuracy. Il-76MD-90A has received advanced equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, modified wings and strengthened chassis. The Il-78M-90A aerial refueling aircraft is being developed on the basis of Il-76MD-90A. An electronic warfare aircraft is likely to be developed in future.