The Il-100 “Slon” transport aircraft is on its way. The new aircraft will have a service life that is three times longer than that of the previous model.
An important phase of production facility modernization is beginning at the Aviastar aircraft plant in Ulyanovsk. The company is implementing a unique production line for the forming and hardening of large aircraft panels. The project is being implemented using equipment developed by Irkutsk National Research Technical University. A key feature of the new technology is that two processes—part forming and hardening—will be combined into a single production cycle for the first time. This makes it possible to simultaneously achieve high geometric precision and significantly extend the service life of structural components.
The precision provided by this innovative system is within 0.5 mm, even for large-scale skin panels. For modern commercial airliners, this parameter is critical: the aerodynamic characteristics and durability of the airframe depend directly on the surface geometry. Thanks to automation and the reduction of auxiliary operations, part production will be 2–3 times faster, while the service life of structural components can increase up to three times compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
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Il-100, According to the Neural Network
Promising Transport Platforms: The Il-276 and Il-100
The modernization of Aviastar’s production facilities is directly linked to plans for the production of new military transport aircraft. The plant is preparing for the serial production of two promising aircraft: the Il-276 and the Il-100. The first is positioned as a lighter and technologically upgraded version of the legendary Il-76, designed for medium-lift missions. The second project—the Il-100 “Slon”—is an entirely new design in the super-heavy transport aircraft class.
It is worth noting that Aviastar already has experience in the serial production of the modernized Il-76MD-90A heavy military transport aircraft and the Il-78M-90A aerial refueling aircraft, which are based on them. The accumulated expertise and new production capabilities are laying the technological groundwork for the transition to the next generation of aircraft.
Model Il-276
Project “Elephant”: Concept and Purpose
The “Slon” Heavy Transport Aircraft (Il-100) is a Russian conceptual project that has been under development by the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) since 2016, commissioned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The aircraft is intended to replace the aging fleet of An-124 “Ruslan” aircraft, which were also previously manufactured at the Ulyanovsk plant.
The project was first presented to the general public in the summer of 2017 at the MAKS-2017 international air show. In the years that followed, specialists at TsAGI conducted extensive aerodynamic modeling work: in November 2019, they began building a full-scale wind tunnel model, and by the summer of 2020, the first cycle of aerodynamic tests had been completed. These studies made it possible to refine the design of the future aircraft and confirm the effectiveness of the chosen design solutions.
Technical Features and Power Plant
One of the key features of the Il-100 project is the use of next-generation aircraft engines. One option under consideration is to equip the aircraft with four PD-35 powerplants, which are being developed in Russia. Alternatively, the possibility of developing engines based on the PD-35 gas generator with a thrust of approximately 24 metric tons is being studied. The use of modern engines will ensure the necessary fuel efficiency when transporting super-heavy cargo over intercontinental distances.
The use of new panel forming and strengthening technology at Aviastar directly affects the operational characteristics of the Il-100. The extended service life of the skin reduces the frequency of scheduled maintenance and extends the overall service life of the airframe, which is particularly important for transport aircraft operating under conditions of intensive use and increased loads.
PD-35; the PD-26
will be developed based on it. Image source: ODC
Technical Specifications of the Il-100 “Slon”:
- Lifting capacity: up to 180 metric tons (maximum design capacity)
- Payload for long-haul flights: 150 metric tons
- Flight range with a payload of 150 metric tons: up to 7,000 km
- Cruising speed: 850 km/h
- Number of engines: 4
- Type of next-generation engines: PD-35 or a derivative based on it
- Project status: conceptual design, model aerodynamic testing phase
- Developer: TsAGI, commissioned by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade
- Proposed site for mass production: Aviastar Plant in Ulyanovsk
- Purpose: to replace the An-124 “Ruslan” and transport oversized and heavy military and civilian cargo
The Project’s Significance for Russia’s Commercial Aviation
The implementation of the Il-100 “Slon” project is of strategic importance for the restoration and development of Russia’s military transport aviation. The ability to independently manufacture super-heavy transport aircraft ensures technological sovereignty and enables the deployment of equipment, humanitarian cargo, and personnel over any distance without dependence on foreign suppliers.
The combination of Aviastar’s cutting-edge manufacturing technologies with TsAGI’s aerodynamic and structural expertise lays the foundation for the development of a competitive, next-generation aircraft. The extended service life of the airframe, achieved through an innovative forming and hardening process, will be one of the Il-100’s key advantages over previous generations of transport aircraft.
This promising transport aircraft is currently under active development, and its entry into the final stages of development will mark an important milestone in the modernization of Russia’s military transport aircraft fleet.
