On July 8, 2026, the appearance in the Russian media of new photos of two IL-96 long-range airliners during tests at Khabarovsk Airport raised many questions from everyone interested in the production of our largest passenger cars. The fact is that the last officially published information about the delivery of the new Il-96 dates back to the end of 2023, and it was an experienced Il-96-400M. Is production of the ninety-six continuing?
Let's start with the July photos from Khabarovsk. They have one Il-96-300 and one Il-96-400M. The KLA said in a statement that these are "experimental aircraft" and they "will perform a series of flights aimed at evaluating the performance of new on-board equipment and upgraded systems.":
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| IL-96-400M. |
| Source: UAC |
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| IL-96-400M. |
| Source: UAC |
With the 400th modification, everything is clear – the picture shows the aircraft with the number 96115, which began flying in November 2023 as an experimental machine of the new 400M series. In the absence of official data from that time on the construction of the following machines of the same type, for now let's assume that it exists in a single copy and its certification program is being worked out on it. The second side is already a serial Il-96-300, the photo shows only a fragment of its nose, which makes it impossible to understand which machine is being used in the tests. It is quite possible that one of the ones that was in storage or restored to airworthiness, since the new ones are branded with the UAC livery. In general, the machines were built earlier, and they work with new domestic devices and systems. And what about the new Il-96?
If you look at the United Aircraft Corporation's channel feeds, there are no documented facts about the delivery of new Il-96s after November 2023. There are two Il-96-400T cargo planes that have been restored to airworthiness, and the second car was commissioned in early 2025. Such transporters are interesting for their characteristics – they deliver 40 tons per 10,600 km, and can carry up to 92 tons as much as possible (with such cargo, the aircraft flies a maximum of 4,700 km). These are all previously built instances.
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| IL-96-400T. |
| Source: UAC |
In 2024-2026, photos of IL-96s under construction in the workshops of the aircraft factory in Voronezh were published. Which cars were not reported, the numbers were not included in the frame. Interestingly, on April 9, 2024, it was reported that the fuselage and wing consoles of the next production Il-96 aircraft had arrived at the assembly shop.:
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
In the Russian Marketing telegram channel, in the caption to the same UAC photos, it was stated that "just one more Il-96 machine will be delivered for final assembly this year – this exactly coincides with the planned production rate of two aircraft of this type annually." In 2026, the UAC channel talked about the assembly of the Il-96 engine nacelles and pylons (January 23) and the painting of the IL-96 (March 4).
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
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| IL-96 at the assembly stage. |
| Source: UAC |
Previously published plans for the production of new civilian aircraft included the construction of 12 IL-96-300s between 2024 and 2030. Meanwhile, this whole slightly confusing story has its nuances. In addition to the Special Flight Detachment "Russia" (SLO, "government aviation squadron"), which consistently orders 1-2 aircraft every couple of years, after 2022 there was no commercial operator of the Il-96 in the passenger version. Yes, we've heard all our favorite stories about 4 engines, but now it's not up to Boeings and Airbases, and the car could easily start carrying passengers on long-distance routes again. But since there is not a single permanent operator in Russian commercial aviation, obviously no one wants to be pioneers, and Aeroflot, I remember, refused to fly the Il-96 in 2014. Therefore, the only one that operates regular flights on the IL-96 is the state-owned airline CUBANA (Cuba). Logically, if Russia wants to start putting its long-range cars on flights, it is logical to make a separate state carrier for them. Moreover, there is a prototype of such a carrier – this is Rostec Sky Gates Airlines, it is in this company that both updated Il-96-400T flying trucks are currently operating.
However, there is still silence about the passenger Il-96. As well as about the execution of plans with 12 IL-96-300. Judging by the fragmentary information provided by a long search in Internet sources, in 2026 it is possible that one car, which we saw in operation in 2024-2026 in the photo of the UAC, will be delivered. Who will be its customer? Most likely, the government aviation squadron is SLO "Russia". The time for him to receive the next new Il-96-300 is just approaching.
Evgeny Belkin
