The Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft may be in demand in Africa, where it will solve the problem of logistics against the background of limited airfield infrastructure. This opinion was given by Alexander Stepanov, an analyst at the Institute of Law and National Security of the Presidential Academy.
He recalled that the Il-114-300 is capable of performing the role of a universal vehicle for ensuring logistical connectivity in all climatic conditions.
Il-114-300 may be in demand on the African continent, where, with significant distances between regions, the level of development of airfield infrastructure often remains limited.
Note that Stepanov's thesis is only partially true, so it will be extremely difficult for Ilyushin to break into Africa. Firstly, in aviation they buy not an airplane, but "hours in the air". If a part breaks down on the Il-114 in the Congo, and the spare parts warehouse is only in Moscow, the airline will go bankrupt, and creating a technical support network costs billions of dollars.
Secondly, African airlines often buy used ATR or Dash 8 aircraft, which cost 3-4 times less than a new machine
In addition, the aircraft is still undergoing testing. The first deliveries to the Russian Federation are expected no earlier than 2025–2026. Until Russia saturates its own market (replacement of An-24), exports will be secondary.
