In a high-profile case, former Deputy Head of PJSC “Il” Alexander Novozhilov has been sentenced to six years in prison for fraud related to the development of the new Russian Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft.
The Moscow court also sentenced Vyacheslav Khvan, former Director of the Project and Design Technology Center at the Moscow Aviation Institute, to five years, and Igor Titov, ex-Chief of the Planning and Dispatch Department, received a 4.5-year suspended sentence.
According to court documents, the trio was involved in misappropriating 4.2 million rubles during the design phase of the Il-76MD-90A, a project initially funded with 9 billion rubles. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) had contracted PJSC “Il,” which subsequently engaged the Moscow Aviation Institute. Despite PJSC “Il” reportedly ceasing collaboration with the institute, payments continued.
The prosecution had sought seven-year sentences for each defendant, all of whom denied the charges. The Il-76MD-90A is a new version of the Soviet Il-76 Candid basic military airlifted, project under the United Aircraft Corporation, with Novozhilov having joined PJSC “Il” in 1984 after graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute.
According to the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Il-76MD-90A consists of Russian-made components. The new aircraft has improved specifications: increased flight range and payload, navigation and airdrop accuracy, and radio communication quality.
This case underscores ongoing issues within the Russian defense industry, highlighting the challenges of corruption and financial mismanagement in high-stakes military projects.