Ilyushin Il-78
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|
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
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.[citation needed]
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).[citation needed]
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
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[update]). 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]
- One former Ukrainian aircraft was imported into the United States with an aim to operate the aircraft for contracted refuelling to United States military by various companies, by 2012 the aircraft was registered to the Bank of Utah.[18][19]
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 (530 mph, 460 kn)
- Range: 7,300 km (4,500 mi, 3,900 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
- ^ a b "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[unreliable source?]
- ^ 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.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ 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[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Ansari, Usman (3 November 2008). "Pakistan Eyes Boost in Transport, Lift". Defense News.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "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.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ 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.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Ил-78МКИ - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Ил-78 - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ [1]Ilyushin.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)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.