Tuesday 3 September 2019

MAKS 2019: Russia unveils new aerial tankers

UAC presented its new Ilyushin Il-78M-90A aerial tanker at MAKS 2019. (Nikolai Novichkov)

MAKS 2019: Russia unveils new aerial tankers | Jane's 360

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) unveiled new aerial tankers at the MAKS 2019 aerospace show that was held in Zhukovskiy close to Moscow from 27 August -1 September.

The company presented its new Ilyushin Il-78M-90A tanker based on the Il-76MD-90A heavy airlifter. "The Il-78M-90A is the first aerial tanker produced from scratch in Russia," said a UAC representative, explaining that previous Ilyushin tankers were built in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Il-78M-90A has been fitted with a new fuel transfer system, the pump performance of which has increased fuel flow by some 10% compared with the existing system on the Il-78M. Trials of the system are set to be completed before the end of the year.


Prototype IL-78M-90A tanker flight testing in Ulyanovsk
New livery for a newest Russian aerial refueling tanker IL-78M-90A

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