The Russian Armed Forces are planning to develop the Il-212, a new lightweight military transport aircraft equipped with turbojet engines which will replace the aging An-26 and An-72 models, an informed source told Sputnik.

Earlier, during a meeting with the leadership of the United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the decision to replace the An-26 and An-72 with light military transport aircraft. He emphasized that a timetable needed to be agreed for this modernization. The informed source, as reported by Sputnik, explained that this would entail modifying the existing project of the light military transport aircraft, the Il-112B.

"The Il-112B project will undergo significant modifications and receive a new designation, the Il-212. The new aircraft will retain most of the on-board equipment and avionics of its predecessor, as well as the overall fuselage structure. However, it will be powered by PD-8 turbojet engines instead of TV-117C turboprop engines. As a result, the aircraft's wing and landing gear will be modified, and new fuel and hydraulic systems will be installed," the source said.

The source clarified that the PD-8 turbojet engines for the Il-212 would be mounted above the wings, similar to the An-72, to enable the new aircraft to operate from improvised runways and unpaved airstrips. The high-mounted engine air intakes would virtually eliminate the risk of ingesting debris and objects from the ground.

The source added that range, payload and cargo cabin dimensions are still under development, but it is certain that the new aircraft will have a higher payload thanks to its more powerful engines.