Russian Defense Minister, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, announced plans to create a prototype of the new Il-212 military transport aircraft with jet engines. According to him, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has already begun developing a technical project for this aircraft, and the production of a prototype is scheduled for the end of 2026.
The Il-212 will be equipped with PD-8 turbojet engines and is designed to replace the aging An-26 and An-72 models. Among its features, according to the minister, will be increased payload capacity, flight range, ease of refueling and maintenance. Shoigu also noted that this aircraft will be able to use unpaved, unequipped runways and operate in arctic conditions.
Earlier it was reported that a modernized version of the Il-212 will replace the Il-112V. Sources in the industry stated that the aircraft will undergo significant changes, but will retain the fuselage, onboard equipment and avionics from its predecessor. In addition to replacing the TV-117S turboprop engines, it is also planned to replace the landing gear struts, fuel and hydraulic systems.
