Ilyushin Il-78
Il-78 | |
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An Il-78M of the Russian Air Force | |
Role | Aerial refueling tanker |
National origin | Soviet Union |
Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
First flight | 26 June 1983 |
Introduction | 1984 (Il-78) |
Status | Active, in production |
Primary users | Russian Air Force Ukrainian Air Force Indian Air Force Pakistan 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 four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76.
Design and development
![](../I/m/Ryazan_-_Dyagilevo._Russia_Air_Force_-_Ilyushin_Il-78.jpg)
The Il-72 Tanker was developed, and designed in the Ilyushin Aviation Complex in Russia. The main reason behind the development of the Il-78 was an expansion of the transferable fuel load of an earlier version of tanker, the Il-76.[2]
Compared to the 10,000 kg transferable fuel load of the Il-76, the Il-78 is equipped with two 18,230 lb. tanks in the freight hold. This allows an transferable load of 85,720 kg.
Operational history
All Russian Air Force Il-78s are now part of the special 203rd "Orlovski" Regiment of aerial tankers, based at Dyagilevo (air base).
Variants
- Il-78
- The Il-78 was the original production version with two removable fuselage tanks and a maximum transferable load of 85.72 tonnes (188,540 lb).
- Il-78T
- Alternative designation for Il-78 due to retention of all cargo handling equipment and convertible freight hold.[3]
- Il-78M
- The Il-78M entered service in 1987 as a dedicated tanker equipped with three permanent fuselage tanks, a higher gross weight of 210 tons, and no cargo door or cargo handling equipment. The cargo ramp is retained but non-functional. Total fuel capacity is 138 tonnes (303,600 lb), of which 105.7 tonnes (232,540 lb) is transferable.[4]
- Il-78M-90A (Il-478)
- An upgraded variant based on the Il-76MD-90A. The first prototype was rolled out on 29 November 2017.[5] It had its maiden flight on January 25, 2018 at an Aviastar-SP facility in Ulyanovsk.[6]
- Il-78ME
- Export version of Il-78M.
- Il-78MKI
- Customized variant of the Il-78ME for the Indian Air Force. These Uzbekistan-built planes are fitted with Israeli fuel transfer systems and can refuel six-eight Sukhoi Su-30MKIs in one mission.[7][8]
- Il-78MP
- Multi-role aerial refuelling tanker/transport aircraft, with removable fuel tanks in cargo hold and UPAZ refuelling pods, for the Pakistan Air Force,[9][10] and Chinese Air Force.[11]
Operators
![](../I/m/Victory_Day_parade_in_Moscow%2C_Russia_in_2009.jpg)
![](../I/m/Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_(RK-3452).jpg)
![](../I/m/Indian_Air_Force_Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_Lofting-1.jpg)
![](../I/m/Pakistan_Air_Force_Il-78MP_R11-003_IST_2013-5-24.png)
As of March 2009, more than 34 Il-78s were in operation.[1]
- Chinese Air Force - 3 Il-78MP.[12]
- Indian Air Force - 6 Il-78MKI (As of February 2014). The Indian Air Force refers to the aircraft as "MARS" (Mid Air Refuelling System) and has raised a new unit (No 78 Sqn). India is also considering procurement of six more Il-78 after scrapping deal with Airbus.[13]
- Pakistan Air Force - four Il-78MP aircraft were ordered from Ukrainian surplus aircraft stocks, fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ refuelling pods.[9][10] The first of the four aircraft was delivered in December 2009.[14][15] A total of four Il-78MPs have been delivered to the PAF as of May 2012.
- Russian Air Force - 19 aircraft in the 203rd Guards Air Refuelling Regiment, which is based in Dyagilevo.[16]
- Ukrainian Air Force - eight aircraft.[17]
Refuelling Capability
Transferable Fuel Load in t[20][21][22] | ||
---|---|---|
Distance | Il-78 | Il-78M |
1000 km | 42 | 74 |
2000 km | 24 | 56 |
3000 km | 15 | 40 |
Specifications (Il-78M)
Data from Ilyushin,[23] UAC,[24]
General characteristics
- Crew: six
- Capacity: Max 100,000 kg payload (T-6 military jet fuel)[25]
- Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)
- Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 72,000 kg (158,733 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 210,000 kg (462,971 lb)
- Special equipment: 3 x UPAZ-1M 'Sakhalin', (unifitsirovaniy podvesnoy agregat zaprahvki;— standardised suspended refuelling unit), refuelling pods; Two on pylons under the outer wings, and the third on the port side of the rear fuselage.
- Fuel transfer rate: 900 to 2,200 liters/min
- Powerplant: 4 × Aviadvigatel D-30 KP turbofan engines, 118 kN (27,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 850 km/h (528 mph; 459 kn)
- Range: 7,300 km (4,536 mi; 3,942 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.23
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- 1 2 "Il-78 Production Numbers". AeroTransport Data Bank.
- ↑ http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ilyushin-il-78/
- ↑ IL-78 Midas Air-to-Air Refuelling / Transport Aircraft, Russia
- ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Kommissarov, Dmitriy (2002). Ilyushin Il-76, Russia's Versatile Airlifter. Midland. ISBN 1-85780-106-7.
- ↑ "В Ульяновске выкачен первый самолет-заправщик Ил-78М-90А". bmpd.livejournal.com. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ↑ Jennings, Gareth (January 26, 2018). "Russia marks maiden flight of Il-78M-90A tanker". Jane's Information Group.
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.
- ↑ Mukherjee, Amit (September 29, 2004). "IAF to get 5th IL-78 refueller soon". The TImes of India.
- ↑ http://www.indian-military.org/air-force/support/air-to-air-refuellers/9-ilyushin-il-78mki-midas.html%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
- 1 2 Ansari, Usman (3 November 2008). "Pakistan Eyes Boost in Transport, Lift". Defense News.
- 1 2 "Pakistan Receiving IL-78 Refuelling aircraft". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ "中国空军急需空中奶妈 新曝伊尔-78非最强版". www.huanqiu.com. 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
- ↑ "Transport / Tanker Aircraft". SinoDefence. Archived from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- ↑ Sputnik (2 August 2016). "India considers buying Russian IL-78 after ending Airbus deal". rbth.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ↑ "Pakistan Receiving IL-78 Refueling aircraft". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ "First aircraft tanker arrives in Pakistan: PAF". GEO Pakistan. December 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010.
- ↑ ru:203-й гвардейский авиационный полк
- ↑ "Ukraine — Air Force Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org.
- ↑ "FAA Registry for N78GF". FAA. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Airliners.net - Aviation Photography, Discussion Forums & News". airliners.net. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
- ↑ "Ил-78МКИ - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ↑ "Ил-78 - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ↑ Ilyushin.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02. UAC.
- ↑ Pike, John. "Il-78 MIDAS". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
Bibliography
- Gordon, Yefim (2004). OKB Ilyushin: a history of the design bureau and its aircraft. Ian Allan. ISBN 1-85780-187-3.
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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