Russia will have to achieve record production rates for Il-78 tanker aircraft if deliveries to China proceed according to the discussed schedule. This assessment was given by independent aviation expert Alexey Zakharov.
According to him, Aviastar's production program for 2026 envisages the production of six aircraft, four of which may be intended for an export customer.
Even if the planned four Il-78s for this year are delivered to China on time, for the next two years, eight aircraft per year will need to be built, which has never happened before.
Zakharov recalled that the Ulyanovsk plant previously built significantly fewer aircraft. For example, in 2023 and 2024, six aircraft were produced each year, and in 2025, seven. Fulfilling a potential export order will require a significant increase in production rates, the expert concluded.
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