Russia’s latest Ilyushin Il-78M-90A aerial refueling tanker is expected to start undergoing flight tests in July, Ilyushin Aircraft Company First Deputy CEO Pavel Cherenkov said on Monday. This reported by TASS.

"The Il-78M-90A aircraft built at the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP Aviation Enterprise is now undergoing its stage of ground trials that include, in particular, a check of its fuel system. Once they are over, the refueling aircraft will be delivered for a paint finish, after which it will be transferred presumably to the Ilyushin Company in July for factory flight tests. Everything is proceeding according to the standard procedure and there are no schedule delays," he elaborated.

At present, the stage of ground tests is underway. The check of the aircraft’s fueling system and the air tightness of its fuel tanks has been completed.

As Head of the Aviastar-SP Flight Testing Station Yuri Kapsha said, the aircraft’s fueling system is designed to supply fuel to its basic engines and the auxiliary powerplant. The trials of this system passed successfully and there were no deviations from the parameters that had been set, he added.

"Apart from the fuel system, the ground tests will also involve engine runs, comprehensive trials of the landing gear-retraction and extension and a check of all the aircraft’s systems for their electromagnetic compatibility," the press office of the transport aviation division at the United Aircraft Corporation said.