Ilyushin Il-76

Il-76
A Russian Air Force Il-76MD
General information
Type	Strategic and tactical airlifter
National origin	Soviet Union / Russia
Designer	Ilyushin
Built by	Tashkent Aviation Production Association Aviastar-SP
Status	In service
Primary users	Soviet Air Forces (historical) Russian Aerospace Forces Ukrainian Air Force Indian Air Force
Number built	969[1]
History
Manufactured	1971–present
Introduction date	June 1974[2]
First flight	25 March 1971
Variants	Ilyushin Il-78 Beriev A-50 Beriev A-100 KJ-2000

The Ilyushin Il-76 (Russian: Илью́шин Ил-76; NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967, to replace the Antonov An-12. It was developed to deliver heavy machinery to remote, poorly served areas. Military versions of the Il-76 have been widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an aerial refueling tanker or command center.

The Il-76 has seen extensive service as a commercial freighter for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items that cannot be carried by other means. It has also been used as an emergency response transport for civilian evacuations as well as for humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world. Thanks to its ability to operate from unpaved runways, it has been useful in undeveloped areas. Specialized models have also been produced for aerial firefighting and zero-G training.