Russian ministry dismantles rare aircraft for urban expansion
Russian local media are reporting on the unusual fate of the unique Ilyushin Il-76PP aircraft. According to emerging information, dismantling efforts are underway in Irkutsk, and ultimately, this one-of-a-kind machine is set to be scrapped.
The unusual reports coming from Russia were highlighted by the Ukrainian site Militarny. It notes that Russian media are covering the ongoing dismantling of the unique Il-76PP aircraft. According to Irk.rus, citing eyewitnesses, this began in November 2024 at the order of the Russian Ministry of Defence, which owns the aircraft, and is expected to continue until the end of the year.
The Russians are getting rid of the Il-76PP
The actions are reportedly related to plans for building a residential complex on the airfield of the former Aviation School in Irkutsk. The land where the Il-76PP is located no longer belongs to the ministry, and the aircraft itself cannot be moved due to its size, notes Militarny.
The Il-76PP is a specialized version of the Soviet Il-76 transport aircraft, designed as an airborne electronic warfare (EW) platform in the mid-1980s. Its main role was to jam and neutralize enemy radar and communication systems, which was crucial in military operations, especially during armed conflicts where dominance in the electronic sphere was essential.
In terms of construction, the Il-76PP was based on the military transport Il-76MD. However, it was fitted with advanced electronic jamming systems, antennas, and additional devices to support EW operations. Despite these modifications, it retained the basic performance characteristics typical of the Il-76 series, such as a maximum take-off weight of approximately 190,000 kilograms and a range of about 4,000–5,000 kilometres, depending on the load and operational conditions.
The Il-76PP was tested until the 1990s. However, according to Militarny, the aircraft ultimately did not enter serial production. This was reportedly due in part to problems with the radio equipment, which proved unreliable. The aircraft was moved in 1992 to the airfield of the aforementioned Aviation School in Irkutsk, where it has remained until now.
