Russian defence ministry signs multi-billion-dollar plane deal

President Putin said “I am confident that this plane will enjoy great demand here, and among our possible partners abroad.”
The Russian President made the announcement while watching the modified IL-76 undergo flight tests at the Aviastar-SP aviation complex in Ulyanovsk.
The plane completed a flight test that lasted approximately 15 minutes.
Although externally the modernised plane bears a close resemblance to its predecessor, the new plane boasts modernised wing-construction, the body has been reinforced, and the engines updated. The on-board communication and navigation systems have also been updated. Russia’s rearmament program envisages the purchase of 100 of these updated planes, currently two have been built — one for flight tests, and a spare. — RIA Novosti.