Armada of Il-76 Heavy Transports Fly Critical Relief Supplies into Pratica di Mare.
Russian Aerospace Forces Il-76 transports loaded with medical supplies and medical specialists are flying to Pratica di Mare Airbase, near Rome, Italy, in the ongoing COVID-19 relief effort. Photos of the aircraft were published today on Russian media outlets, but have not yet been widely reported in western media.
The aircraft originated from Chkalovsky Military Airfield near Shchyolkovo, Moscow Oblast, approximately 31 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Moscow. Photos distributed to media by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) showed six Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport aircraft (NATO codename “Candid”) sitting in a parking area/taxiway, apparently before departure. Reports indicate that at least 9 Il-76s were readied for the mission and that the airlifters involved in the relief mission belong to Russia’s 224th Air Detachment of Military Transport Aviation operating the Il-76MD. The aircraft have a reported payload capability of 48,000 kg (105,822 lb.), or 50 tons of cargo that apparently includes medical support vehicles in addition to supplies and medical personnel.
According to reliable sources inside Russia to TheAviationist.com, the team of medical specialists dispatched to Rome from Moscow include Major General Sergey Kikot, a leading developer and specialist “in the application of the latest samples of special processing systems.” Maj. Gen. Kikot is credited with, “fulfilling the tasks of organizing work in the difficult epidemiological conditions of outbreaks of anthrax peptic ulcer”. Also on board the relief mission is Lieutenant Colonel Gennady Eremin, a leading scientist at the research center of medical sciences and an expert in organization of anti–epidemiological measures. Lt. Col Eremin has extensive experience in epidemiological treatment and eradication across Africa. The team also includes Lt. Col. Vyacheslav Kulish, a specialist in the development of vaccines for Ebola and bubonic plague. Lt. Col. Kulish participated in the development of vaccines for Ebola and bubonic plague. Another member of the relief mission is Lt. Col. Alexander Yumanov, and Associate Professor for the Military Medical Academy. Lt. Col. Yumanov has extensive experience with anti-epedimic support in natural disasters and emergencies, including deployment to India, the Republic of Guinea in Africa. Another military medical specialist deployed in the relief mission to Italy is Col. Aleksey Smirnov of the Russian Medical Service. Col. Smirnov is a leading epidemiologist and author of more than 70 scientific papers on epidemiology and the prevention of infectious diseases. Col. Smirnov was also instrumental in the development of an effective Ebola vaccine.
The Russian media outlet tvzvezda.com reported that, “The Il-76 aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which today, March 22, left Chkalovsky airfield and headed for Italy. The aviation group was created by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu.” The report went on to say, “About 100 specialists in the field of virology and epidemiology with the necessary machinery and equipment will be [have been] transferred to Italy.”
As of 19.00GMT on Sunday, March 22, 2020, the online flight tracking websites showed at least two aircraft en route to the region. FlightAware.com also showed the direct southern flight route of the first aircraft into Rome from the Moscow area.
The arrival of the Russian medical relief mission comes after China and the U.S. have sent supplies s part of an international relief effort.
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