Russia to allocate US$22.5 million for the IL96-400M program

Voronezh Aircraft Plant (VASO) to be allocated about 1.3 billion rubles (US$22.5 million) from the federal treasury for the new IL-96-400M program.

The IL-96-400M will be a transition phase before the implementation of the Russian-Chinese project, dubbed the CR929, which will fly for the first time as early as 2022.

The first production IL-96-400 should be ready by the end of 2019, with mass production beginning in 2020. The new plane is longer than its 'predecessor' IL-96-300 by 9.5 meters, with capacity at 370 passengers.

The first five IL-96-400M are expected to be delivered in 2023 to State Transport Leasing Company.