4. jul 2008. godine : SinoDefence
Kina planira da obnovi pregovera sa Rusijom o nabavci 30 aviona Il-76MD i 8 avio-tankera Il-78. Predjašnji dogovori su prpali kada je Rusija tražila veću cenu od početne a koja je rezultat izmedju proizvodjača aviona i prodavca aviona, a tiče se učešća u finansijskoj dobiti od posla.
Cela vestChina is planning to reopen the negotiation with Russia over a failed deal involving procuring 30 IL-76MD transport jets and 8 IL-78 refuelling tankers.
China acquired 14 IL-76MD military cargo planes from Russia in the 1990s. Negotiations on additional aircraft procurement between China and Russia reportedly began as early as 2001. During the Peace Mission 2005 Sino-Russia joint military exercise, two PLA Air Force (PLAAF) Su-30MKK fighters performed a simulated refuelling operation with a Russian Air Force IL-78 tanker. A purchase deal involving 30 IL-76MD and 9 IL-78 worth US$1.045 billion was soon announced after the exercise.
However, none of the aircraft has been delivered three years after the deal was signed, mainly due to increased production costs and dispute between the aircraft manufacturer Tashkent Chkalov Aircraft Association and Russian state-owned weapon exporter Rosoboronexport over the payment of these aircraft.
Tashkent Chkalov Aircraft Association in Uzbekistan initially won the contract in 2005. However, Rosoboronexport later decided in 2006 to relocate the aircraft production to Ulyanovsk, Russia, while Tashkent company will only build 15 of the transport planes as a subcontractor to Russia's Ilyushin.
This change has resulted in a significant increase in the production cost. Russia demanded an increase of price to US$1.5 billion, which was refused by China. The delivery of the aircraft was delayed, and Beijing suspended negotiations on several other military contracts with Moscow.
In late 2006, Rosoboronexport decided to completely change the contractor for the aircraft deal. All 38 aircraft will now be assembled at the Ulyanovsk Aircraft Plant. A source in Ilyushin Company confirmed that Beijing has finally agreed to renegotiate the price for the contract, on the condition that newer aircraft models and terms of delivery will also be discussed.
