Ilyushin Il-76

Military versions of the Il-76 have been widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an aerial refueling tanker and command center.

The Il-76 has seen extensive service as a commercial freighter for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items that cannot be carried by other means.

The aircraft was conceived by Ilyushin in 1967 to meet a requirement for a freighter able to carry a payload of 40 tonnes (88,000 lb) over a range of 5,000 kilometres (2,700 nmi; 3,100 mi) in less than six hours, able to operate from short[vague] and unprepared airstrips, and capable of coping with the worst weather conditions likely to be experienced in Siberia and the Soviet Union's Arctic regions.

[citation needed] From 2004 onwards, a number of aircraft in commercial service were modernized to the Il-76TD-90VD version; this involved the adoption of the newly developed PS-90 engine to comply with European noise limitations.

[citation needed] In June 2013, Russian military export agency Rosoboronexport announced an order by China for 12 Il-76MD aircraft.

[4] Another application for the type was found in Antarctic support flights and for conducting simulated weightlessness training for cosmonauts (akin to the "Vomit Comet" used by NASA).

[7] Beriev and NPO Almaz also developed an airborne laser flying laboratory designated A-60, of which two were built, much of this project's details remaining classified.

[10] On 29 April 2015, it was reported that the Russian Aerospace Forces received the first Il-76MD-90A built at the Ulyanovsk plant "Aviastar-SP" from the 2012 contract for 39 aircraft.

Il-76s were often hit by shoulder-launched Stinger and Strela heat-seeking missiles and large-calibre machine gun fire, but because the strong airframes were able to take substantial damage and remain operational, the aircraft had a remarkably low attrition rate during this period of conflict.

As of July 2024, the Aviation Safety Network has tracked 137 incidents involving Il-76 series aircraft resulting in the 1,158 fatalities.

The Il-76 is a high-wing freighter with four turbofans and a T-tail
Landing gear of an Ilyushin Il-76
Landing of the Il-76 transport aircraft at the Brest airport
Video of Il-76MD landing on an unpaved runway
USAF and IAF airmen work inside the cockpit of an Indian Il-76.
Il-76TD-90, Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines have larger diameter.
Il-76LL with PD-14 engine prototype under testing, 2015
Il-76TD glass nose which is flight navigator 's station
Il-76LL SKIP testbed, 1999 flying with Aeroflot markings.
Il-76MD-90A of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Il-76MD GSh-23 tail guns
Il-76MD cargo cabin
An Il-76VKP/-82 flying under Aeroflot brandname .
A commercial variant of the Ilyushin Il-76, loading cargo at Ali Air Base, Iraq
An Il-76TD belonging to the IRGC , used as a firefighting aircraft
A Volga-Dnepr Airlines Il-76TD-90VD flying commercial operations.
A-50E/I Mainstay of the Indian Air Force
Present and former Il-76 operators
Military operators
Civilian operators
Military and civilian operators
Il-76 of the Soviet Air Forces .
A Pouya Air Il-76 landing at Mehrabad Airport in Dec 2023.
A pair of Air Koryo Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft at Pyongyang International Airport .
GST Aero Il-76 at Patriot Hills Base Camp , Antarctica
Loading BMD-1 in Ukrainian Air Force Il-76
An Il-76MD that was damaged during the Sknyliv air show disaster on 27 July 2002, during which the Sukhoi Su-27 involved struck a glancing blow against the aircraft's nose before crashing into spectators