To replace the fleet of aging An-26 and An-72 transport aircraft (both originally designed by Ukraine’s Antonov) in the Russian Armed Forces, plans are underway to create a new turbojet-powered light military transport aircraft, designated Il-212.
A short time ago, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at a meeting with the leadership of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced the decision to replace the An-26 and An-72 light military transport aircraft. According to a well-informed source told RIA Novosti, the future Il-212 will be based on a modified design of the Il-112V light transport aircraft project.
«The IL-112V project will be substantially redesigned and receive a new designation – IL-212. The aircraft will retain as much as possible the flight equipment and avionics of its predecessor, as well as the airframe in general. At the same time, it will receive PD-8 turbojet engines instead of TV-117S turboprops. Accordingly, the aircraft’s wing and landing gear will be redesigned, new fuel and hydraulic systems will be installed,» RIA Novosti’s source was quoted as saying.
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Russian PD-8 turbofan
The PD-8 is a turbofan engine developed by United Engine Corporation (UEC) to replace the French/Russian SaM-146 that equips the SSJ-100 Superjet airliner, which after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is undergoing a process of «Russification» of all its components. PD-8s are also used on the Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft.
See also: Russian SSJ-100 Superjet Achieves Maiden Flight With Reduced Western Parts Dependency
PD-8 engines will be modified for military implementation. According to the anonymous source, these engines would be installed on the wings of the aircraft (as on the An-72) so that the Il-212 can operate without restrictions from unprepared runways and unpaved airfields, thus avoiding foreign object damage (FOD), to the engine. However, several Russian experts doubt that such a configuration is necessary.
Modifications to the Il-112V
While specifications for range, payload and cargo cabin dimensions are still under development, the future Il-212 design is expected to be based on a lengthened and strengthened fuselage from the Il-112V, resulting in an aircraft with increased payload capacity, speed and range. The aircraft’s wings and landing gear will also be redesigned, and new fuel and hydraulic systems will be installed.
The result should be an aircraft with capabilities similar to the Airbus C-295 and Leonardo C-27J Spartan, the leading military transport aircraft in their segment.
