The Russian Federation is about to arms Il-212 by 2026: what are the problems in the aircraft

Russian observers say that the new machine will be equipped with a PD-8 engine, which at the tests in December last year did not confirm its characteristics. The Russian company "United Aviation Corporation" (UAC) is working on the creation of a new lightweight transport aircraft IL-212 with a turbouoable engine that should replace the park of military transport aircraft An-26 and An-72. The research sample of the new machine will appear at the end of 2026.

This was stated on March 5 by the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoig. "The new transport aircraft will distinguish the increased load capacity and range of flight, simplicity of refueling and maintenance. In addition, it can use soil unattached runway, as well as be operated in Arctic latitudes," Shogu said. The Minister added that the UAA has already started developing the IL-212 technical project.

Meanwhile, profile resources specify that the project will not be developed from scratch, and allegedly a "new machine" is actually an IL-112V processed under new PD-8 engines. At one time, the IL-112B was to become the main easy military transport aircraft. It is also reported that the IL-212 will retain from the preliminary modification of fuselage, on-board equipment and avionic.

The changes will touch the wings, chassis and the locations of the engine - it will be installed on top of the wings for the possibility of operation at unprepared and soil aerodromes. It should be noted that some Russian observers are skeptical of the new project. In particular, it is about problems with PD-8 engines. On the one hand, it is clearly more powerful and has a starting thrust almost twice as much as a turboprop TV7-117th centuries, which is mounted on the IL-112.

On the other hand, the question arises as to whether Russian aircraft will be able to produce a new "IL" and lift it into the air by 2026. After all, PD-8 has long been installed on the passenger SJ-100, but the aircraft did not rise in the air-it clearly indicates problems with the engine. "The main problem of imported SJ-100 remains the Russian PD-8 engine, which did not confirm its characteristics at the tests.