Perm Engine Company, a subsidiary of Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC), plans to begin deliveries of its PS-90A1 engines for the four-engined Ilyushin Il-96-400M widebody this year.

“We are working on an initial set of engines,” says Managing Director Sergey Popov, commenting on the Il-96-400M project. “We will supply enough of these for the [Il-96-400M] program. Next comes the possible series production of the aircraft and of the engines.”

The Il-96-400M is expected to fly next year. The aircraft is a passenger version of the Il-96-400T freighter, which differs from the Il-96-300 baseline in a stretched fuselage (+9.65 m) and a greater takeoff weight (+20 tons). The new airliner will seat 390 passengers (against the baseline’s 300).

The PS-90A1 was certified in 2007. The engine produces 1400 kg more thrrust than the PS-90A baseline.

Production of the PS-90 family engines is expected to continue for at least the next 15 years. This year Perm Engine Company will manufacture its 500th powerplant of this family, whose first version was developed in the 1990s. In addition to the Il-96, these engines power Russia’s Il-76 and Tupolev Tu-204/214 aircraft.