Why Il-76 Production Collapsed—And How Russia Brought It Back

The Il-76MD-90A is more than just a modernized transport aircraft—it is the symbol of Russia’s long and difficult return to heavy military aircraft production. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the closure of the Tashkent aircraft plant, Russia lost the ability to mass-produce large transport aircraft. Restarting Il-76 production in Ulyanovsk meant rebuilding supply chains, workforce skills, and manufacturing infrastructure almost from scratch. This video explains why early production numbers were so low, how the Aviastar plant gradually stabilized output, and why reaching 12 aircraft per year is such a critical milestone. We also look at how the new Il-76MD-90A differs from Soviet-era aircraft, the current size of Russia’s Il-76 fleet, and what the future holds for exports and expanded production. #Il76 #Il76MD90A #RussianAviation #MilitaryAviation #Airlift #AviationIndustry #DefenseNews #RussiaDefense #MilitaryTransport #Aviastar #AircraftProduction Be a Member for exclusive privileges -    / @altitudeaddicts   Twitter : https://x.com/AltitudeAddicts Website: https://www.altitudeaddicts.com