Russia Eyes Inviting India to Il-100 Slon Super-Heavy Military Transport Aircraft Program as IAF Grapples with Its Aging Il-76 Fleet

In a move that could signal a major renewal of long-standing aerospace ties, Russia is reportedly preparing to invite India to join its next-generation Il-100 Slon (‘Elephant’) super-heavy military transport aircraft program.

This potential offer comes at a critical time for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing significant operational challenges with its fleet of aging Soviet-era Il-76 transport aircraft.

The invitation, if formally extended, would present New Delhi with a strategic opportunity to address a growing gap in its strategic airlift capabilities and co-develop a platform for the future.

For decades, India has been one of the largest operators of Russian military hardware, and this collaboration could deepen that defence partnership.

IAF's Aging "Gajraj" Fleet in Urgent Need of Replacement​

The backbone of the IAF's heavy-lift component for nearly four decades, the Il-76, affectionately nicknamed "Gajraj" (King Elephant), is nearing the end of its service life. Inducted between 1985 and 1989, the fleet has been hampered by severe maintenance issues.

According to official reports, including a 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit, the serviceability rate of the Il-76 fleet has been worryingly low, at times falling below 40% against a required minimum of 70%.

These issues are compounded by a chronic shortage of spare parts, a problem made worse by international sanctions on Russia. This has frequently left a substantial portion of the fleet grounded, impacting the IAF's ability to transport troops and heavy equipment, especially to strategic high-altitude border regions.

While the IAF's 11 American-made C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have proven exceptionally reliable with near-perfect availability rates, their production line was closed by Boeing in 2015.

This makes acquiring additional units nearly impossible, leaving the IAF to search for a viable, long-term replacement for its 17 remaining Il-76s.

The Il-100 Slon: A Modern Successor​

The Il-100 Slon is Russia's ambitious project to develop a modern strategic airlifter to replace its own aging An-124 and Il-76 fleets.

Developed by the renowned Ilyushin Design Bureau, the aircraft is envisioned as a four-engine transport with a projected payload capacity of up to 100 metric tons, significantly more than the IAF's C-17s (77 tonnes) and double that of the Il-76 (45-50 tonnes).

Early designs reveal an aircraft with features similar to the C-17, such as a high-wing configuration and a rear loading ramp, but also incorporating elements from the massive An-124 Ruslan for carrying oversized cargo.

The Slon is being designed for versatility, capable of deploying troops, transporting main battle tanks and other heavy military hardware, and conducting humanitarian aid missions.

Crucially for India, it is being developed to operate from short and unpaved runways, a key requirement for supporting military outposts in remote areas like the Himalayas.

Advanced PD-35 Engine at its Core​

Powering the Il-100 will be four advanced PD-35 turbofan engines, currently under development by Russia's United Engine Corporation. Each engine is designed to produce approximately 35 tons of thrust, making it one of the most powerful engines of its kind.

Based on the core design of the smaller PD-14 engine, the PD-35 incorporates modern technologies like composite materials and 3D-printed components to reduce weight and increase efficiency.

Though development has faced delays, with serial production now anticipated around 2030, successful ground tests of the engine's core components have been completed.

These new engines promise to give the Slon greater range, fuel efficiency, and payload capacity compared to older aircraft.

Comparative Look: IAF's Current vs. Proposed Fleet​

A partnership in the Slon program could offer the IAF a platform that not only replaces the Il-76 but also enhances its overall airlift capacity beyond the current C-17 fleet.

Feature	Il-76MD (IAF Current)	C-17 Globemaster III (IAF)	Il-100 Slon (Projected)
Payload Capacity	45-50 tonnes	77 tonnes	90-100 tonnes
Unrefueled Range	~4,000 km	~4,400-5,000 km	~5,000+ km (est.)
Runway Requirement	~3,000 m	~914 m (Short-field)	~2,500 m (est.)
Serviceability (IAF)	~38%	~100%	To Be Determined
Engines (Thrust)	4x D-30KP (117 kN each)	4x F117-PW-100 (178 kN each)	4x PD-35 (350 kN each)

The decision for India will involve balancing the strategic benefits of co-developing a next-generation aircraft with a trusted partner against the risks associated with the long development timelines and reliance on a single foreign supplier.

However, with limited options available globally for new super-heavy airlifters, the Il-100 Slon presents a compelling, if challenging, path forward for modernizing the IAF's transport fleet.

 

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[Mc Addy]

These are good opportunities if made in India ,not Russia for starters as Russia fooled us into funding in 2000s on stealth and till date we are gappling with that loss of strategic advance over China ,otherwise we would be the most modern airforce in this part of world. So tell Russia,we make here , we fund so it's here where sucess will come like Bhramos missile.

 

[Mc Addy]

Russians are not to relied upon ,as once they come into Chinese arm twist tactics they will drop us so what's needs is made here, in India otherwise buy from somewhere else or forget it, use mules from RVC and yes ,such massive aircrafts are need by all branches of armed forces for AWACS, medevacs, paradrops , Ariel refulling tankers and command and control centres in air during war ,so find good use for them , build special aircrafts from scratch,instead of later modifications and then results will cost effectiveness and cutting edge systems ,,rolled into one and yes, there can be a heavy bombers version ,that can launch a few 50 cruise missiles in one go ,onto a target at mach .08 , will be a force multipliers like non other . Think and do, but do it here and now.

 

[P2S2]

Russians are not to relied upon ,as once they come into Chinese arm twist tactics they will drop us so what's needs is made here, in India otherwise buy from somewhere else or forget it, use mules from RVC and yes ,such massive aircrafts are need by all branches of armed forces for AWACS, medevacs, paradrops , Ariel refulling tankers and command and control centres in air during war ,so find good use for them , build special aircrafts from scratch,instead of later modifications and then results will cost effectiveness and cutting edge systems ,,rolled into one and yes, there can be a heavy bombers version ,that can launch a few 50 cruise missiles in one go ,onto a target at mach .08 , will be a force multipliers like non other . Think and do, but do it here and now.

Congrats. You're on the roll , you have the size, the need and the ability to pay for it. You'll end up in a critical position in the partnership. Go for it with eyes wide open, with the ability to become a leading and possibly superior heavy lifter in the world. Leaders are created by necessity.