Irkutsk is cutting the only available aircraft, a radio jammer based on the IL-76 heavy transport aircraft, for metal to build a residential complex at its storage site.

The local media reported on this.

The IL-76PP, located at the former Irkutsk Aviation School’s airfield, was dismantled in mid-November. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has ordered its dismantling, as the land where it is located no longer belongs to the department. Due to its size, the aircraft itself cannot be removed.

According to the media, after the military school was disbanded, its territory and training airfield were owned by the Ministry of Defense but later transferred to the city of Irkutsk. The land is currently leased to a developer building the Aviator residential complex there.

IL-76PP

Built in the mid-1980s, the IL-76PP is a unique electronic warfare aircraft based on the IL-76MD military transport aircraft. It was designed to suppress enemy electronic equipment during troop advances.

The aircraft was equipped with the Landysh electronic warfare system and was designed to create noise radio interference. Its equipment is located both inside and outside the fuselage.

An AI-24VT turbo generator manufactured by the Motor Sich plant in Zaporizhzhia was installed on the aircraft (in the left rear cowling) to power the new equipment. It powered four alternators.

This particular airplane’s characteristic features include cylindrical containers with equipment in the wingtips, a round radar antenna under the cargo cabin’s deck, and side fairings in front of the entrance door, which are not present in the basic IL-76MD.

The IL-76PP was tested until the 1990s but did not go into production due to problems with radio equipment that proved unreliable and did not achieve electromagnetic compatibility.

It is reported that in 1992, the aircraft was relocated to the airfield of a well-known school, where it was stored until recently.

Currently, the Russian Aerospace Force has a small fleet of three IL-22PP electronic warfare aircraft built in 2011-2016 on the basis of the IL-20.