The first flight of Russia's newest light military transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-112, should take place in 2017, with serial production beginning in 2019, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said Wednesday, news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Borisov, who is responsible for Defense Ministry weapons, vehicle and equipment procurement said that the military plans to buy at least 35 Il-112s — a domestic replacement for the Ukrainian Antonov An-26 aircraft currently used as military transports.
Last summer, Ilyushin CEO Yury Yudin estimated the first flight would take place this year and that the Defense Ministry was interested in over 60 of the new planes.
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