Russia's Modernized Ilyushin Il-114-300 Turboprop Emerges as a Strong Contender for India's Regional Connectivity Initiatives

Russia is actively promoting its updated Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft as a potential solution for India's growing regional aviation needs. The plane, capable of accommodating up to 68 passengers, is specifically designed for shorter flights, making it a possible fit for India's "Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik" (UDAN) regional connectivity scheme.

The Il-114-300 is a substantial upgrade from the original Il-114, which had limited production. The -300 version has been modernized with current technologies to meet the requirements of today's regional aviation market. The aircraft is currently undergoing a rigorous flight-testing program, with tests being conducted at the Lukhovitsy airfield, located near Moscow.

The improvements to the Il-114-300 are extensive, encompassing a complete modernization. This includes new avionics (flight control systems), more fuel-efficient engines, and an overall design focused on lowering operational expenses and improving performance.

The aircraft utilizes two Klimov TV7-117ST-01 turboprop engines, which offer better fuel economy and reduced maintenance requirements compared to older engine types. These engines are also notably more powerful than previous variants. According to manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the engine provides up to 3,100 horsepower at takeoff, giving a higher power-to-weight ratio.

India's UDAN scheme aims to improve air travel to smaller cities and towns by connecting airports that are currently underserved or not served at all. This initiative is intended to stimulate economic development in more remote regions.

The Il-114-300, with its ability to take off and land on short and unpaved runways, is well-suited to the goals of the UDAN program. The Russian aircraft is positioned as a replacement for the older Antonov An-24 and An-26 aircraft, which are still used by some regional airlines in India, but are aging and less efficient.

The UDAN scheme, formally launched in 2016, has awarded hundreds of routes, showing the plan to grow the regional connectivity. The II-114-300, if used, will boost the plan further with advanced equipment.

 

[Phantom]

We need to test the merits and if it fits our needs and if it is cheaper then why not.

 

[War is good for business]

It's heavier per passenger than the ATR and thus consumes more fuel. Even in the passenger-to-staff ratio, the ATR 72 is better.

 

[yogesh]

Reference the article above, for a developing country like ours, we need to consider various factors:

1. The outflow of foreign exchange in purchase decisions by potential buyers.
2. Maintenance and overhaul expenses.
3. Operating costs of the aircraft.
4. Locally available spares.
5. Logistics in maintenance and operations.

If a country is willing to jointly manufacture this sort of regional aircraft, then we should certainly look at the benefits. These could be:

We will not only be making the aircraft for the country's regional transportation requirements but can also work together to export them to other countries, thereby earning foreign exchange. Secondly, we will be able to develop our aerospace ecosystem. Third, white-collar and blue-collar jobs would be created. Fourth, we can probably work together to design other aircraft with different capacities for short-haul, regional transportation.

Let's therefore not write off any offers without careful analysis.

 

[Kira]

Russian civilian jets have terrible fuel economy due to their fuel-guzzling engines. As civilian air carriers have fuel economy as their top priority when looking at any aircraft, the Russian offer is a no-go.