On October 19, 2025 local time, a contract was posted on the Russian Internet. It was said that the contract was for China to purchase 20 large aircraft and the Russian-made Il-78 tankers. At present, the specific circumstances of this contract are still unknown. According to the contract information, China will propose a purchase from Russia in 2023, regarding 20 Il-78 Minh-90 А tankers, as well as the "President-C" airborne radio system, spare parts, consumables, maintenance time, etc.
According to Russian contract information, Russia plans to start delivering Il-78 Minh-90 А tankers to China in 2025 and 2027. It is said that this contract is a document of Russian Electronics Group Corporation, issued by the executive director, and has customer code 156. China plans to purchase 20 Il-78MK-90A tankers developed based on the Il-476 platform. Now, we have not seen large Russian aircraft delivered to China in 2025, so the deadline may be around 2027. Putting aside the content of the Russian contract, if Russia can manufacture ready-made large aircraft, large tankers, or tankers with faster delivery and sell them to us, why not? The question is how many years will it take for the Russian aviation manufacturing industry to deliver 20 aircraft?
At present, the current annual production of Russia's Il-476 transport aircraft is 6 aircraft per year. The Russian Air Force has to replace its own equipment and the A-50M early warning aircraft have to occupy production.
As early as 2005, China signed contracts with Russia for the purchase of 34 Ir-76MD carriers and four Ir-78MK refueller, the total amount of about $10.45 billion, is because Russia has no production capacity, plans to move the Uzbekistan's Ir-76 carriers production line, was opposed by Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan demanded Russian investment, resuming the production line of Ir-76MD carriers in Uzbekistan, while China's 34 Ir-76MD carriers and 4 Ir-78MK tankers were produced in Uzbekistan, the result was Russian opposition, eventually Russia left Uzbekistan, began to build Ir-476 carriers production line, while China ordered 34 Ir-76MD carriers and 4 Ir-78MK tankers, Russia has never delivered.
Russia's Il-78M-90A petrol tanker, will be replaced by the more oil-efficient PS-90A-76 engine, replaced by the D-30KP, and fully replaced by the aerospace system. At the same time, the "President-S" aircraft carried self-defense system is added. At present, China's own large aircraft, transporting 20 large transport aircraft, oil-transporting 20 petrol engines production is also rising, while Russia's order, Russia has not yet delivered, is expected to delay delivery time to 2027. If this contract is true, it can only be explained as the Chinese army now urgently needs large transport aircraft, domestic transport 20 aircraft, oil-transport 20 petrol engines is not enough, in order to meet the demand of the Taiwanese military preparation, it must be purchased from Russia
China-Russia is now large aircraft project, C-929 large aircraft is a little short of the word, instead of the Russian procurement of 20 large aircraft in the middle direction, the Ir-78 refueller caused attention. It may be the demand for preparation for war, but according to China hundreds of shipping 20, Ir-9, Ir-8, transport aircraft, why to purchase 20 Ir-78 refueller, the specific reasons are not known. From the perspective of the Chinese side, the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war on August 2, 2022, is indeed a key sign of the political field from variable to quantity change. Can not be the replacement of the imported Ir-78 refueller, the Chinese Air Force to expand the fleet? let the Su-30MKK fighter, Su-30MK2 fighter, Su-35 fighter, play a better
But now we can buy very few things from Russia. After balancing, although transport aircraft and tankers already have the Y-20 series, there are still gaps. Therefore, it is the best choice to buy Russia's most advanced tankers. Let Russia see that China's procurement strength, even at the cost, must expand its military strength. The production speed of the Y-20 series cannot keep up with the actual needs of the Air Force. It seems that there is a time point. At present, the production capacity of Yun-20 mainly meets the needs of transportation and early warning and air electronic command centers, and cannot provide airframe for tankers in a short time. Purchasing the Il-78 tanker is at a reasonable price and can quickly equip troops. In addition, military purchases can also help Russia transfuse blood. The purchase of IL-78 tanker aircraft is the same as the idea of the PLA Army Aviation's large purchase of Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-171 helicopters, without delaying the purchase of China's own helicopters.