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Ilyushin Il-76

Il-76

Picture - Atlant-Soyuz Il-76 at Baghdad International Airport

Role: Strategic airlifter
Manufacturer: Tashkent Aviation Production Association
Designed by: Ilyushin
First flight: March 25, 1971
Introduced: June 1974
Status: Operational
Primary users: Russian Air Force Ukrainian Air Force Indian Air Force TransAVIAexport Airlines
Number built: 960
Variants: Ilyushin Il-78 Beriev A-50 KJ-2000

The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose 4-engined strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Ilyushin bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas of the USSR. Military versions of the Il-76 have seen widespread use in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an airborne refueling tanker or as a command center.

The Il-76 has seen extensive service as a commercial freighter for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items unable to be otherwise carried. It has been used as emergency response transport for civilian evacuations and to deliver humanitarian/disaster relief aid around the world, especially to undeveloped areas due to its ability to operate from unpaved runways. A water-carrying version of the plane has been effective in fire-fighting. There is also a model used for zero-G training.

Design and development

Picture - An Il-78 leads an aerial formation during the Victory Day parade over Moscow, Russia.

The aircraft was first conceived by Ilyushin in 1967 to meet a requirement for a freighter able to carry a payload of 40 tons (88,000 lb) over a range of 5,000 km (2,700 nmi; 3,100 mi) in less than six hours, able to operate from short 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. It was intended as a replacement for the An-12. Another intended version was a double-decked 250-passenger airliner but that project was cancelled. The Il-76 first flew on March 25, 1971.

Production of Il-76s was placed in Tashkent Aviation Production Association in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then a republic of the Soviet Union). Some 860 of the basic transport variants were made. In the 1990s, modernized variants were developed (MF, TF), with a cargo compartment sized 20 m (length) x 3.4 m (width) x 3.4 m (height), but were not produced in significant quantity due to financial problems of the major user, the Russian Air Force. The prototype of the longer variant Il-76MF, with greater capacity, first flew on 1 August 1995. The production ceased around 1997, and the factory has since deteriorated.

Some commercial aircraft were modernized to the Il-76TD-90VD version, starting from 2004, using new PS-90 engines to meet European noise limits. In 2005, China ordered in Russia 34 new Il-76MDs and 4 Il-78 tankers, and the factory in Tashkent produced 16 incomplete airframes. Production of the Il-476 at a new production line at the Aviatstar factory in Ulyanovsk, in Russia, in cooperation with the Tashkent works, is under consideration. The construction of two prototype IL-476 has begun at the Ulyanovk facility.

Operational history

Picture - Ilyushin Il-76MD of Iraqi Airways at Basle in 1984

First aircraft were delivered to the Soviet Air Force in June 1974. Next it became the main Soviet strategic transport aircraft. From 1976 it was operated by the Aeroflot lines.

Between 1979 and 1991, the Soviet Air Force Il-76s made 14,700 flights into Afghanistan, transporting 786,200 servicemen, and 315,800 tons of freight. The Il-76 carried 89% of Soviet troops and 74% of the freight that was airlifted. As Afghan rebels were unable to shoot down high-flying Il-76s, their tactics were to try and damage it at take-off or landing. 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 still remain operational, the aircraft had a remarkably low attrition rate during the period of conflict. Building on that experience, the bulk of the Canadian Forces equipment into Afghanistan is flown in using civilian Il-76. As of 2006, the Russian Air Force had some 200 Il-76s, fewer than half of which were airworthy. Civilian users in Russia have 108.

Picture - USAF and IAF airmen work inside the cockpit of an Indian Il-76.

Il-76s sitting on the ramp at the Tripoli Airport were bombed by USAF F-111s during Operation El Dorado Canyon in April 1986.

The Il-76 is also in use as an airborne tanker, otherwise known as a refueller (Il-78, some 50 were made), and a waterbomber. Its airframe was used as a base for the Beriev A-50 'Mainstay' AWACS aircraft (some 25 were made). Still more applications have been found in Antarctic support flights and simulated weightlessness training for cosmonauts. Beriev and NPO Almaz also developed an airborne laser flying laboratory designated A-60, of which two were built, although little is known about it, as the project is still classified.

1988 Maldives Coup

Also known as the Operation Cactus, on November 3, 1988, the Indian Air Force paratroopers were flown to the islands of Maldives in Il-76MD to foil an attempt to overthrow the government on the Republic Of Maldives after help was requested by the government of Maldives to India.

Hurricane Katrina

The Russian Federation offered humanitarian aid to the United States following Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans. Two EMERCOM Il-76 aircraft landed at a disaster aid staging area at Little Rock, Arkansas on September 8. This marks the first time Russia has flown such a mission to North America.

India also used an Il-76 to deliver aid on September 13, 2005 for Katrina victims.

In October 2009 it was reported that the Russian Government had offered the Australian Government the use of two Il-76 water bombers to help put out the Black Saturday bushfires. However, Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) declined the offer due to the aircraft not being suited for the conditions in Victoria and approval from aviation authorities could not be obtained in time.

Variants

Prototypes and developmental variants

Picture - Il-76TD, one of the first variants, at Zurich Airport.

Izdeliye-176 - prototype Il-76PP.
Izdeliye-576 -
Izdeliye-676 - Telemetry and communications relay aircraft, for use during trial programmes (prototype).
Izdeliye-776 - Telemetry and communications relay aircraft, for use during trial programmes (prototype).
IZdeliye-976 (SKIP) - Airborne Check-Measure-and-Control Center) - Il-76/A-50 based Range Control and Missile tracking platform. Initially built to support Raduga Kh-55 cruise missile tests.
Izdeliye-1076 - Special mission aircraft for unknown duties.

Picture - Indian air force pilots walk away from their IL-76 medium cargo jet after landing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Izdeliye-1176 - ELINT electronic intelligence aircraft, a.k.a. Il-76-11
Il-76TD-90 / Il-76MD-90 Engine upgrades to Perm PS-90s.
Il-76 firebomber - Fire-fighting aircraft to drop exploding capsules filled with fire retardant.
Il-76PSD - SAR version of Il-76MF
Il-96 - Early development of convertible passenger/cargo aircraft, (project only, designation re-used later)
Il-150 - proposed Beriev A-50 with Perm PS-90 engines.
Beriev A-60 - Airborne laser weapon testbed. (Il-76 version 1A)

Military variants

Picture - An Il-76 in-service with the Indian Air Force

Il-76-Tu160 tailplane transporter - One-off temporary conversion to support Tu-160 emergency modification programme.
Il-76D - ('D' for "Desantnyi", Десантный - "Paratrooper transport") has a gun turret in the tail for defensive purposes.
Il-76K / Il-76MDK/Il-76MDK-II - Zero-g cosmonaut trainer (dlya podgotovki kosmonavtov), for Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center.
Il-76LL - Engine testbed, (ooniversahl'naya letayuschchaya laboratoriya).
Il-76M - Military transport version, (modifitseerovannyy - modified).
Il-76MD - Improved military transport version, (modifitseerovannyy Dahl'ny - modified, long-range).
Il-76MD Skal'pel-MT - Mobile Hospital

Picture - An Il-78MKI in-service with the Indian Air Force

Il-76M / Il-76MD - Built without military equipment but designated as Ms and MDs (Gordon - 'Falsies')
Il-76MD-90 - An Il-76MD with quieter and more economical Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines.
Il-76MF - Stretched military version with a 6.6 m longer fuselage, PS-90 engines, maximum take-off mass 210 t and lift capability of 60 tonnes. First flew in 1995, not built in series so far.
Il-76PP - ECM aircraft, major problems with ECM equipment, Izdeliye-176 only.
Il-76MD PS - Maritime Search and Rescue aircraft, (poiskovo-spasahtel'nyy).
Il-76T/Il-76TD - Built as military aircraft but given civilian designations. (Gordon - 'Falsie')
Il-78 / Il-78M - Aerial refuelling tanker.
Il-82 - Airborne Command Post/communications relay aircraft, (alternative designation - Il-76VKP-'version65S').
Beriev A-50/Beriev A-50M/Beriev A-50I/Beriev A-50E - Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. Beriev given control over the program.
Il-476

Civil variants

Picture - A commercial variant of Ilyushin Il-76 loading cargo at Ali Base in Iraq

Il-76MGA - Initial Commercial freighter. (2 prototypes and 12 production)
Il-76MD to Il-76TD conversions. Complete removal of Military equipment, identified by crude cover over OBIGGS inlet in Starboard Sponson.
Il-76P / Il-76TP / Il-76TDP / Il-76MDP - Firefighting aircraft. The Il-76 waterbomber is a VAP-2 1.5 hour install/removal tanking kit conversion. The Il-76 can carry up to 13,000 U.S. gallons (49,000 liters) of water; 3.5 times the capacity of the C-130 Hercules. Since this kit can be installed on any Il-76, the designation Il-76TP, Il-76TDP are also used when those versions of the Il-76 are converted into waterbombers. The Il-76P was first unveiled in 1990.

Il-76T - ('T' for Transport, Транспортный) unarmed civil cargo transport version. NATO code-name Candid-A. It first flew on November 4, 1978.
Il-76TD - The civil equivalent of the Il-76MD, first flew in 1982.
Il-76TD-90VD - An Il-76TD with Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines and a partial glass cockpit. It was developed specially for Volga-Dnepr cargo company. 3 aircraft had been built already
Il-76TD-S - Civilian mobile Hospital, similar to Il-76MD Skal'pel-MT.
Il-76TF - Civil transport stretched version with Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines. It is the civil version of the Il-76MF (none produced).

Foreign Variants

A-50 Phalcon

For the Indian Air Force. Hosts Israeli Phalcon radar for AWACS and Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines.

Il-76MD tanker

Iraqi Air Force tanker conversions.

KJ-2000

Domestic Chinese AWACS conversion of Il-76, developed after A-50I was cancelled and currently in service with the armed forces of China.

CFTE Engine Testbed

China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE) currently operates a flying testbed converted from a Russian-made Il-76MD jet transport aircraft to serve as a flying testbed for future engine development programmes. The first engine to be tested on the aircraft is the WS-10A “Taihang” turbofan, currently being developed as the powerplant for China’s indigenous J-10 and J-11 fighter aircraft. The #76456 Il-76MD, acquired by the AVIC 1 from Russia in the 1990s, is currently based at CFTE’s flight test facility at Yanliang, Shaanxi Province.

Baghdad-1

Iraqi development with a radar mounted in the cargo hold, used in the Iran - Iraq war.

Baghdad-2

Iraqi development (with French assistance) with fibreglass-reinforced plastic radome over the antenna of the Thomson-CSF Tiger G surveillance radar with a maximum detection range of 350 km (189 nmi, 217.5 mi). One was destroyed on the ground during the Persian Gulf War but two others (Adnan-1 and Adnan-2) were flown to Iran where they remained. They were re-named Simorgh and probably modified. At least one was put back to service with IRIAF since on 22 September 2009, one of them crashed during a midair collision with a HESA Saeqeh fighter jet during the annual Iranian military parade in Teheran. The other one is believed to be not flightworthy as of 2009. It can be easily distinguished from the Beriev A-50 by having the Il-76 navigator windows in the nose, which the A-50 does not.

Operators

Picture - Present and ex-Il-76 operators. (Red=Military only Green=Civilian only Blue=Both)

Military and Civil operators in 38 countries have operated 850+ Il-76 in large numbers. While Russia is the largest military operator of the Il-76, followed by Ukraine and India, Belarus' TransAVIAexport Airlines is the largest civilian operator. In the list below, known current operators are listed in italics.

United Nations

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service have operated several of the type from the early to mid 90's to now. Most of them are either ex-Aeroflot or one that the Russian Air Force has lent to the UN.

Algeria

The Algerian Air Force operates 11 Il-76 aircraft, including 3 Il-76MD, 8 Il-76TD, and 7 Il-78 Midas.

Angola

The Angolan Air Force operated one Il-76 which crashed on 27/08/09 near 4 de Fevereiro Internacional Airport
Gira Globo operates 1 Il-76.

Armenia

The Armenian Air Force operates 2 Il-76s.
Dvin Airlines has operated an Il-76TD.
Yerevan-Avia operates 1 Il-76.

Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijan Air Force operates 3 Il-76 aircraft.
Azal Avia Cargo operates 1 Il-76TD.
Azerbaijan Airlines operates 1 Il-76M.
Silk Way Airlines operates 7, including 5 Il-76TD and 2 Il-76TD-90.

Belarus

The Belarusian Air Force inherited a number of Il-76 aircraft from the Soviet Air Force. 4 in service.
Belair operated the Il-76 before its closure in 1999.
TransAVIAexport Airlines operates 1, including 5 Il-76MD and 18 Il-76TD.
Gomelavia operates 5 Il-76TD.

Burkina Faso

Faso Airways operates a single Il-76TD.

Cambodia

Imtrec Aviation has operated a Laotian registered Il-76.

China

The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates 17 Il-76 aircraft, including 3 KJ-2000 AWACS versions and some Il-78 tankers, with a further 30 due for delivery.
China United Airlines has operated the Il-76, but does not currently.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Air Congo has operated the Il-76.

Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo operates an Il-76.

Equatorial Guinea

Ecuatorial Cargo operates 1 Il-76TD.
Express International Cargo

Hungary

Atlant Hungary has operated the Il-76.
Hungarian Ukrainian Air Cargo has operated the Il-76

India

The Indian Air Force current fixed-wing transport fleet comprises 24 IL-76 and more than 100 AN-32s. 17 Il-76MD, 6 Il-78MKI aircraft and 2 A-50 with Israeli Phalcon radars for AWACS. Mostly for transporting ration in high altitude regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Siachen region

Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force operates 6 Il-76s, including some modified to carry AWACS radar.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force operates 2 Il-76s.
Atlas Air has operated at least 8 Il-76TD.
Chabahar Air has operated at least 2 Il-76TD.
Mahan Air has operated the Il-76.
Payam Air operated 2 Il-76TD.
Qeshm Air operates 2 Il-76TD.
Safiran Airlines is a former operator.
Yas Air operates 2 Il-76TD (Registered as EP-GOL and EP-GOM).

Iraq

The Iraqi Air Force operated the Il-76, but none remain in service.
Iraqi Airways operates a single Il-76.

Kazakhstan

The Government of Kazakhstan operates 1 Il-76.
Air Almaty operates an Il-76TD for leased operations.
Air Kazakhstan operated Il-76 aircraft until its closure in 2004.
GST Aero operates 1 Il-76T.
Kazakhstan Airlines operated the Il-76TD before its closure in 1997.
Sayakhat Airlines operated the Il-76 previously.

Kyrgyzstan

Botir Avia operates 3, including 1 Il-76MD and 2 Il-76TD.
Kyrgyzstan Airlines operates 1 Il-76TD.
Reem Air

Laos - Lao People's Democratic Republic

Imtrec aviation of Cambodia operates Laos registered Il-76TD.

Latvia

Inversija operates 3, including 2 Il-76T and 1 Il-76TD.

Libya

The Libyan Air Force has operated the Il-76 although it may not remain in service.
Jamahiria Air Transport operates the Il-76M, Il-76TD, and Il-78.
Libyan Air Cargo, the cargo division of Libyan Arab Airlines, operates 21, including 1 Il-76M and 15 Il-76TD.

Mali

Transafrica Airlines

Moldova

Aerocom operated an Il-76MD as well as an Il-76T until as late as January 2005.
Airline Transport operated a number of Il-76 aircraft, losing 3 in accidents in 2004 and 2005.
Jet Line International operates the Il-76
Tiramavia

North Korea

North Korean Air Force
Air Koryo
CAAK

Russia

The Russian Air Force inherited large numbers of the aircraft from the Soviet Air Force in 1991, and 119 currently remain in service.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations operates an Il-76TD.
Abakan Avia operates 3 Il-76TD.
Aeroflot operated large numbers of aircraft, especially during Soviet years, often on behalf of the Soviet military. However, none remain in service with the airline.
Air STAN operated an Il-76TD.
'Airlines 400 operates 2 Il-76TD.
Airstars Airways operates 4 Il-76TD on cargo services.
ALAK operated Il-76 aircraft before its closure in 1999.
Alrosa-Avia operates 4 Il-76TD on charter services.
Aram Air
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines operates 6, including 2 Il-76MD and 4 Il-76TD.
ATRAN Cargo Airlines operates 5, including 3 Il-76T and 2 Il-76TD. At least one Il-76M may have been operated in the past.
Atruvera Aviation operates 3, including 1 Il-76MD and 2 Il-76TD.
Aviacon Zitotrans operates 5, including 4 Il-76TD.
Aviaenergo operated the aircraft, but none remain in service.
Aviast operates 4, including 1 Il-76MD and 3 Il-76TD.
Border Guard Service of Russia
Continental Airways has operated the Il-76 in the past, but does not do so currently.
Dacono Air has operated the Il-76.
Domodedovo Airlines has operated the Il-76, but none is currently in service.
East Line operates the Il-76.
Ilavia Airline operates 6, including 2 Il-76MD and 4 Il-76TD.
KrasAir operated the Il-76, but none is currently in service.
Krylo Airlines operated 2 Il-76TD into 2005.
Magadan Avia Leasing is a lease and charter operator of the Il-76.
Moscow Airways operated an Il-76TD in the early 1990s.
Novosibirsk Air Enterprise operated the Il-76, but none is currently in service.
Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise operated the Il-76, but none is currently in service.
Samara Airlines operates 2 Il-76TD.
Tesis Aviation Enterprise operates 9 Il-76TD.
Tyumen Airlines
Uralinteravia
Volga-Dnepr operates 12 Il-76TD and 2 Il-76TD-90VD.

Serbia

Air Tomisko operates a single Il-76TD.
Kosmas Air operates a single Il-76TD.

Sierra Leone

Aerolift Sierra Leone operates Il-76 aircraft for special charter and cargo lift operations.

Soviet Union

The Soviet Air Force operated hundreds of the aircraft, with an inventory of 310 in 1987. Most were dispersed to the successor states upon the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Aeroflot was the main civil user of the aircraft during the period of the Soviet Union, although many of its aircraft were operated on behalf of the military.
Jet Air Cargo was one of the first civil operators of the Il-76 in Russia other than Aeroflot.

Sudan

Air West operated a small number of aircraft, although it is unclear how many remain in service.
Azza Transport operates 2 Il-76TD.
East West Cargo operated a number of Il-76 aircraft.
Juba Cargo operates the Il-76
Badr Airlines operates 1 Il-76,[2]
Trans Attico
Alfa Airlines

Syria

The Syrian Air Force operates the Il-76.
Syrian Arab Airlines operates 4, including 3 Il-76M.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan Airlines operates 8 Il-76TD.

Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force inherited a large number of Il-76 aircraft from the Soviet Air Force, with as many as 100 remaining in service.
Air Service Ukraine operated the Il-76MD.
Air Ukraine and Air Ukraine Cargo operated the aircraft, although none were in service at the time of bankruptcy.
ATI Aircompany operates a number of Il-76 models.
Azov Avia Airlines operates 2 Il-76MD.
BSL Airline operated as many as 6 Il-78.
Busol Airlines operated the Il-76 before its closure in 1998.
Khors Aircompany operates 2 Il-76MD.
Lviv Airlines operates 3 Il-76MD.
South Airlines is a former operator.
Ukraine Air Alliance operates 4, including 1 Il-76MD and 3 Il-76TD.
Ukrainian Cargo Airways operates 21, including 19 Il-76MD.
Veteran Airlines
Volare Airlines operates 3, including 2 Il-76MD and 1 Il-76TD.
Yuzhmashavia operates 2 Il-76TD.

United States

Air Support Systems, LLC operates the Il-76/78 in fire fighting duties in the USA.

United Arab Emirates

Gulf Aviation Technology and Services operates a number of Il-76 aircraft on charter or lease.
Phoenix Aviation operates 2 Il-76TD.

Uzbekistan

Avialeasing operates the Il-76 on a charter and lease basis.
Uzbekistan Airways operates 14 Il-76TD.

Yemen

The Yemen Air Force operates 3 Il-76 aircraft.
Yemenia operates 2 Il-76TD.

Zimbabwe

Avient Aviation operates 1 Il-76T on Antarctic support missions based in Argentina.

Incidents and accidents

On 11 December 1988, An Aeroflot Il-76 crashed on approach to Leninakan, Armenia killing all 78 on board. The aircraft was on an air relief operation following the 1988 Spitak earthquake.
On August 3, 1995 a Il-76 piloted by a Russian crew was forced down by Taliban fighter plane sparking The Aerostan incident
On 19 August 1996, Il-76T Spair Airlines Flight PAR-3601, crashed and exploded while trying to land at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport killing 12 crew members
On 12 November 1996, Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Il-76 had a mid-air collision near New Delhi, India with a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747, resulting in the loss of all 349 lives aboard both aircraft. The accident was ruled as pilot error, with the Il-76 aircraft failing to follow air-traffic controller instructions.
On 2 December 2001, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Flight 9064 crashed at Novaya Inya, Russia, following an on board fire, killing 18 onboard.
On 19 February 2003, an Ilyushin Il-76 crashed near Kerman, Iran under unspecified reasons (possibly weather-related). The crash killed 302 people, including hundreds of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
On 8 May 2003, the rear loading ramp of an Il-76 leased by the Congolese government unexpectedly opened at 10,000 feet, causing over 120 policemen and their families to be sucked out 45 minutes after taking off from the capital Kinshasa.
On 11 November 2005, A Royal Airlines Cargo Il-76MD, s/n 0053464926, crashed into a hill 30 km NW of Kabul, Afghanistan.
On 9 March 2007, a Transaviaexport Il-76TD s/n 1003499991, registered EW-78826, on approach at Mogadishu, Somalia, was hit by a projectile, later confirmed as an RPG by Belarus officials. The aircraft landed safely but sustained substantial damage.
On 23 March 2007, a Transaviaexport Il-76 was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile while taking off from Mogadishu, Somalia.
On 30 June 2008, an Ilyushin Il-76 exploded into a fireball on take-off from Khartoum International Airport in Sudan. All four crew were killed.
On 15 January 2009, two Il-76s collided and caught fire in Uytash Airport, Makhachkala, Russia.
On 9 March 2009, an Ugandan Il-76 crashed into Lake Victoria after takeoff from Entebbe International Airport, killing four crew and several peacekeeping force officials.
On 27 August 2009, Il-76 "T 906" of the Forx�as Armadas Angolanas aborted its take-off from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport. Luanda, Angola and overran the end of the runway. There were no casualties among the eight crew and 33 passengers.
On 22 September 2009, Il76-MD "5-8208" of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force crashed near Varamin killing all seven people on board. The crash was the result of a mid air collision with a Northrop F-5E Tiger II.
On 1 November 2009, Il-76MD (tail number RA-76801) of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs crashed soon after take-off from Mirny Airport in Yakutia killing all 11 people on board. The plane had no cargo, it was a repositioning flight to Irkutsk. The Il-76 banked to the right, its wing hit a pile of mine tailings and it crashed into the ground near an old diamond mine.

Specifications (Il-76D)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 5-7
Capacity: 40,000 kg (Il-76)
Payload: 45 - 47 tonnes (~50 tons)
Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)
Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 300.0 m� (3,229.2 ft�)
Empty weight: 72,000 kg (Il-76) (159,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 157,000 kg (Il-76) (346,000 lb (Il-76))
Powerplant: 4x� Soloviev D-30KP turbofans, 118 kN (26,500 lbf) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 900 km/h (490 kt, 560 mph,) Mach 0.82 depending on altitude
Range: 3,650 km (Il-76) () with max payload
Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,700 ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
Wing loading: 566.7 kg/m� (Il-76M/T) (116.05 lb/ft� (Il-76M/T), 129.72 lb/ft� (Il-76MD/TD))
Thrust/weight: 0.305 (Il-76)
minimal landing run: 450 m with thrust reversal

Armament

Guns: 2x� 23 mm cannon in radar-directed manned turret at base of tail
Bombs: Some military models have 2 hardpoints under each outer wing capable of supporting 500 kg bombs.

Notes:

Strategic airlift

Related development

Beriev A-50 'Mainstay'
Ilyushin Il-78

Comparable aircraft

C-141 Starlifter
C-17 Globemaster III
Antonov An-70

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Source: WikiPedia