Russian Il-76s Flew 100+ Missions for UAE—and May Have Carried Weapons to Sudan

A sanctioned Russian cargo airline with a history of transporting military equipment has flown more than 100 missions linked to the United Arab Emirates since mid-2025, including flights that may have supported weapons deliveries connected to the war in Sudan, according to reporting cited by Defense Express on October 6.

Defense Express, referring to an investigation by Defense News, identified the operator as Aviacon Zitotrans, a Russian airline that operates at least four Il-76 heavy transport aircraft and has previously been linked to military cargo missions for Moscow.

The carrier has also reportedly transported supplies for units of Russia’s Africa Corps and previously moved various types of weapons, including missiles, to customers in Asia.

Against that background, Defense Express noted that its growing work on behalf of UAE interests stands out as another example of the airline’s role in sensitive international logistics.

Flight tracking reviewed in the investigation reportedly showed Aviacon Zitotrans aircraft departing from locations directly associated with the UAE military, including Al Ain and Sweihan air bases.

Other flights originated from the Chandana airstrip in Pakistan, a location associated with hunting grounds used by members of the Emirati ruling families.

The Sudan connection is harder to verify directly. According to the reporting cited by Defense Express, the aircraft’s transponders were repeatedly switched off over the Gulf of Aden and only appeared again during the return leg.

That pattern has fueled suspicions that the Il-76s continued toward Sudan while deliberately avoiding public flight tracking.

The aircraft identified in the reporting carried the registrations RA-76842, RA-76502, RA-76846 and RA-76834.

Aviacon Zitotrans has already been subjected to international sanctions over its role in transporting military cargo.

Defense Express suggested that this could make the airline particularly useful for operations that governments or commercial carriers may be reluctant to perform, since the company already faces significant restrictions and therefore has less exposure to additional reputational or financial penalties.

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The relationship also fits into the broader economic ties between Moscow and the UAE that have deepened since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine. The Emirates have become an important hub for Russian trade and financial activity as Moscow looks for alternative routes around Western restrictions, Defense Express noted.

Earlier, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed responsibility for shooting down a Sudanese Air Force Il-76 Candid transport plane near the western town of Babanusa on November 4, reportedly killing everyone on board.

According to Russian military-linked Telegram channels, the aircraft was operated by a Russian civilian crew working under contract.

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