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| Il-78 | |
|---|---|
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| An Il-78M of the Russian Air Force | |
| Role | Aerial refueling tanker
Type of aircraft
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| National origin | Soviet Union Russia |
| Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
| First flight | 26 June 1983 |
| Introduction | 1984 (Il-78) |
| Status | In service and production |
| Primary users | Soviet Air Forces (historical) Russian Aerospace Forces Ukrainian Air Force (historical) Indian Air Force |
| Produced | 1984–present |
| Number built | 53[1] |
| Developed from | Ilyushin Il-76 |
The Ilyushin Il-78 (Russian: Илью́шин Ил-78; NATO reporting name Midas) is a Soviet/Russian four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76 strategic airlifter.[2]
The Soviet Union's first dedicated tanker aircraft were variants of preexisting bombers, like the Tupolev Tu-16 and Myasishchev M-4. Their performance was deemed insufficient, especially so since new bomber models were slated to enter service (the Tupolev Tu-22M and the Tupolev Tu-160). In 1968, the development of a new tanker began, based on the Ilyushin Il-76. Its performance was insufficient for use as a tanker: it could only transfer less than 10 tonnes of fuel to other aircraft. Instead of the basic Il-76, the improved Il-76MD version was chosen as the basis for the new tanker, named Il-78, owing to its higher fuel capacity.[3] The Il-78 tanker was developed and designed in the Ilyushin Aviation Complex in the Soviet Union.[4][unreliable source?] The Il-78 made its first flight on 26 June 1983, and entered service in June 1987. Meanwhile, work on a version with a higher fuel capacity began. This version, the Il-78M, first flew on 7 March 1987. In total, 32 Il-78s, 13 Il-78Ms and a single Il-78E (a version exported to Libya) were built at the Tashkent Aviation Production Association, from 1984 to 1993.[3]
Taking the Il-76MD as its basis, the Il-78 airframe retains its general configuration. The tail turret is removed, and an air refuelling operator is situated in the rear gunner's position. Three aerial refueling pods are added: one under each wing, and one fixed to the rear fuselage. The basic Il-78 use three UPAZ-1 pods, while the Il-78M uses two UPAZ-1s under the wings, and one UPAZ-1M on the rear fuselage (the UPAZ-1M has a superior fuel transfer rate). The underwing pods are used to refuel tactical aircraft, while the fuselage pod is used for heavier aircraft. The Il-78 uses the probe-and-drogue refueling method. The Il-78 can transfer fuel from its internal tanks, and two removable tanks located in the cargo hold. The Il-78M has three fixed tanks in its cargo hold. The basic Il-78 can transfer a maximum of 57.7 tonnes of fuel (internal tanks only) or 85.7 tonnes with the additional tanks, while the Il-78M can transfer 105.7 tonnes.[3]
| Transferable Fuel Load in tons[12][13][14] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distance | Il-78 | Il-78M |
| 1000 km | 42 | 74 |
| 2000 km | 24 | 56 |
| 3000 km | 15 | 40 |
Algeria
China
India
Pakistan
Russia
Angola
Libya
Soviet Union
Ukraine
United StatesData from Ilyushin,[28] UAC[29]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
The maiden flight of the new Ilyushin Il-78M-90A aerial refuelling tanker for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) took place on 25 January. The 35-minute flight took place out of the Aviastar-SP production facility located in Ulyanovsk, approximately 600 km east of Moscow.
The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.
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Ilyushin aircraft
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