The Russian long-haul aircraft Il-96 has not lost its technological basis for deep modernization. However, it has weaknesses that determine its technical parameters, explained aviation expert Oleg Panteleev.
He recalled that the Il-96 series was developed based on 1970s technologies, when the design bureau began developing the Il-86. Panteleev believes that this legacy determines the parameters of the "Ilyusha," which in several aspects is inferior to foreign aircraft from the 2000s.
If a global market is needed, then an international partner must be sought. If it's only for domestic use out of desperation, then the Il-96 can be modernized by implementing the most modern developments for the MC-21.
It should be noted that there are several Il-96 models in the Russian aircraft fleet. For example, the Il-96-300 carried passengers but left regular routes back in March 2014.
The country's top officials are transported on the Il-96-300PU model — a universal airborne command post. Commercial companies transport cargo on single copies of the Il-96-400T with an extended fuselage. Also, OAK is still developing the Il-96-400M, which takes to the skies for flight tests every few months.
The aircraft are built at the Voronezh Aircraft Plant. There are no new orders for the Il-96 from airlines, so this situation effectively makes it "unnecessary" in the civil aviation market.