Russia's Ministry of Defense Loses Quarter of Il-76 Aircraft Due to Substandard Parts

In Russia, 5 military aircraft Il-76MD-90A have malfunctioned due to landing gear problems caused by substandard parts.

This was reported by the Russian publication Kommersant.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated a criminal case against the management of JSC "Balashikhinsky Foundry and Mechanical Plant" (BLMZ) under Article 201.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which pertains to abuse of authority in fulfilling state defense orders.

According to the investigation, BLMZ purchased bearings from an unknown supplier that did not meet the requirements of the design documentation. These bearings were used in manufacturing wheels for the Il-76MD-90A aircraft, an upgraded version of the Il-76 designed for troop and cargo transport.

The use of substandard bearings led to the malfunction of the landing gear on five Il-76MD-90A aircraft, representing a significant portion of such aircraft in the Russian Ministry of Defense's inventory.

The investigation alleges that the actions of BLMZ management have caused significant damage to state interests, compromised the defense capability and security of the country. Law enforcement officers conducted a search at the plant and are questioning its managers and founders.

The Il-76 is a Soviet-era heavy military transport aircraft developed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. The Il-76MD-90A is a heavily modified version of the Il-76.

Russian media, citing open sources, reported that by the end of 2023, the Ministry of Defense of Russia had a total of 18 Il-76MD-90A aircraft.