Ilyushin Il-78

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]

"Il-78" redirects here. For the road, see Illinois Route 78.
Il-78
An Il-78M of the Russian Air Force
Role Aerial refueling tanker
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

Design and development
Il-78s from 203rd Guards Air Refuelling Regiment

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 brand-new tanker started, taking the Ilyushin Il-76 as a basis. However, its performances were 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, thanks to its higher fuel capacity.[3] The Il-78 tanker was developed and designed in the Ilyushin Aviation Complex in the Soviet Union.[4] The Il-78 made its first flight on 26 June 1983, and it officially entered service in June 1987. Meanwhile, work on a version with a higher fuel capacity started. This version was called Il-78M, and it 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 one 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]

Variants
Il-78
Original production version based on the Il-76MD. With the additional fuel tanks removed, the Il-78 can serve as a regular cargo aircraft.[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 tonnes, 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.[5]
Il-78-2
Modernization of Il-78/78M aircraft, using same parts as used in newly produced Il-78M-90A and Il-76MD-90A variants, to enhance service life from 30 to 40 years. The cockpit equipment is modernised, and flare launchers are installed. The aircraft have three UPAZ-1M air refuelling pods.[6][3] The first modernized aircraft was rolled out on 25 August 2019.[6]
Il-78M-90A (Il-478)
An upgraded variant based on the Il-76MD-90A. First prototype was rolled out on 29 November 2017,[7] and performed its maiden flight on 25 January 2018.[8] On December 12, 2020, an order for 10 Il-78M-90As was signed, with the serial production starting in 2021.[9]
Il-78E
Export version of the Il-78. One example built for Libya.[3]
Il-78MKI
Export version for India. Six aircraft were ordered in 2002, built at the Tashkent Aviation Production Association plant using unfinished airframes. Uses Cobham Mk.32B air refuelling pods, which allow to refuel both Russian-built and Western aircraft.[3]
Il-78MP
Multi-role aerial refuelling tanker/transport aircraft, with removable fuel tanks in cargo hold and three UPAZ-1 refuelling pods, for the Pakistan Air Force.[10][11]

Refueling capability
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

Operators
An Indian Air Force Ilyushin Il-78
An Ilyushin Il-78 simulating aerial refuelling with a Tu-95MS during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on 9 May 2009
IAF Ilyushin Il-78 providing mid-air refueling to two Mirage 2000 fighter planes
A PAF IL-78 landing
Sukhoi Su-30MKI refuelling from an Ilyushin Il-78 during exercise Konkan Shakti 21

Current operators
 Algeria
  • Algerian Air Force – six Il-78s bought from Ukraine in 1998, delivered between 1998 and 2003 after servicing in Russia.[3] Four Il-78s in service of Algerian Airforce as of 2017.[15]
 China
  • Chinese Air Force – three Il-78s ordered to Ukraine in 2011, delivered between 2014 and 2016 after overhauls. These aircraft are fitted with UPAZ-1 pods.[3]
 India
 Pakistan
  • Pakistan Air Force – four Il-78s were ordered from Ukrainian surplus stocks in 2006, fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ refueling pods.[10][11][3] They were delivered between 2009 and 2011 after being overhauled at the Mykolaiv aircraft repair plant. These aircraft received the designation Il-78MP.
 Russia

Former operators
 Angola
  • National Air Force of Angola – one ordered from Ukraine in 2001. Refueling equipment was removed and the aircraft rebuilt into an Il-76TD before it was sent to Angola in 2003.[20][3] Scrapped in 2014.[3]
 Libya
 Soviet Union
 Ukraine
  • Ukrainian Air Force – inherited 21 Il-78s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since 1993, some of the aircraft were disposed of their refueling equipment and used as cargo aircraft, others were sold to Algeria, India, Pakistan and China for air refueling operations.[20][23]
 United States
  • An Il-78 of the Ukrainian Air Force was bought by North American Tactical Aviation Inc (NATA) in 2005, and flown to the United States in July 2006 for use in air refueling operations contracted to the United States military. It passed into Air Support Systems LLC ownership and got an American civilian registration N78GF. It was then mothballed at the North Texas Regional Airport for two and a half years. In 2009, it left the airport with a Ukrainian crew hired by NATA and was heading to the Wittman Regional Airport, Wisconsin, to refuel before flying to Pakistan for phase aircraft maintenance. However, it was diverted to the Sawyer International Airport, Michigan, where it remains grounded. In 2010, the aircraft was repossessed by the Bank of Utah Trustee and in 2019 sold to Meridican Inc, an international consulting firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The aircraft was to receive a cockpit upgrade for international operations in 2018.[24][25][26][27] It was undergoing engineering changes in 2022 to upgrade its air-to-air refueling pods, hose and drogue system to a Western-manufactured system that is compatible with US Navy and NATO.

Specifications (Il-78M)

Data from Ilyushin,[28] UAC[29]

General characteristics

  • Crew: six
  • Capacity: Max 100,000 kg payload (T-6 military jet fuel)[30]
  • 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

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. "Il-78 Production Numbers". AeroTransport Data Bank. Archived from the original on 2002-11-21. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  2. "Il-78 | OJSC "Ilyushin Aviation Complex"". Ilyushin.org. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. "[Actu] L'Ilyushin IL-78 Midas". Red Samovar. 18 June 2021.
  4. "IL-78 Midas Air-to-Air Refuelling / Transport Aircraft". Airforce Technology. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  5. Gordon, Yefim; Kommissarov, Dmitriy (2002). Ilyushin Il-76, Russia's Versatile Airlifter. Midland. ISBN 1-85780-106-7.
  6. "Первый модернизированный самолет-заправщик Ил-78М2". bmpd.livejournal.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  7. bmpd (2017-11-30). "V Ulyanovske vykachen pervy samolet-sapravshchik Il-78M-90A" В Ульяновске выкачен первый самолет-заправщик Ил-78М-90А [The first tanker aircraft Il-78M-90A was rolled out in Ulyanovsk]. bmpd. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  8. Jennings, Gareth (January 26, 2018). "Russia marks maiden flight of Il-78M-90A tanker". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018. 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.
  9. "Russian Defense Ministry Signs Contract to Get 10 Modern Tanker Planes - Deputy Minister".
  10. Ansari, Usman (3 November 2008). "Pakistan Eyes Boost in Transport, Lift". Defense News.
  11. "Pakistan Receiving IL-78 Refuelling aircraft". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-12-08. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  12. "ОАК-Транспортные самолеты - САМОЛЕТ ТОПЛИВОЗАПРАВЩИК Ил-78М-90". Archived from the original on 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  13. "Ил-78МКИ - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  14. "Ил-78 - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  15. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  16. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  17. "43rd Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel DA". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  18. "43rd Center for Combat Application and Training of Aircrew for Long Range Aviation". vitalykuzmin.net. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  19. "203rd Guards Orlovskiy Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  20. "Судьба украинских самолетов-заправщиков Ил-78". bmpd.livejournal.com. 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  21. "106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division im. 60th anniversary SSSR". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  22. "409th Aviation Regiment of tanker aircraft". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  23. "Ил-78 на Украине". airwar.ru. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  24. "Il-78M Midas Ukraine". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  25. "N78GF Aircraft Registration". flightaware.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  26. "FAA Registry for N78GF". registry.faa.gov. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  27. "Under the radar « FOCUS/midwest". 2010-11-30. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  28. http://www.ilyushin.org/aircrafts/special_aircraft/319/ Archived 2014-06-04 at the Wayback MachineIlyushin.
  29. "ОАК-Транспортные самолеты - САМОЛЕТ ТОПЛИВОЗАПРАВЩИК Ил-78М-90". Archived from the original on 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2012-11-02.UAC.
  30. Pike, John. "Il-78 MIDAS". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. 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.

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