Ilyushin Il-78

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 strategic airlifter.

"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
Manufacturer Ilyushin
First flight 26 June 1983
Introduction 1984 (Il-78)
Status Active, in production
Primary users Russian Air Force
Algerian Air Force
Indian Air Force
Pakistan 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 Il-78 tanker was developed and designed in the Ilyushin Aviation Complex in Russia. The main reason behind its development was an expansion of the transferable fuel load of an earlier version of tanker, the Il-76.[2]

The Il-78 has a total transferable fuel load of 85,720 kilograms (188,980 lb), which includes 28,000 kilograms (62,000 lb) from a pair of 18,230-litre (4,010 imp gal; 4,820 US gal) tanks in the freight hold. In comparison, the Il-76 has a capacity of only 10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb).[2]

The Il-78 transfers fuel solely through deployment of the probe-and-drogue refueling method.

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 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.[4]
Il-78M2
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. First modernized aircraft was rolled out on 25 August 2019.[5]
Il-78M-90A (Il-478)
An upgraded variant based on the Il-76MD-90A. First prototype was rolled out on 29 November 2017,[6] and performed its maiden flight on 25 January 2018.[7]
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.[8][9]
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,[10][11] and Chinese Air Force.[12]

Operators
An Ilyushin Il-78 simulating aerial refuelling with a Tu-95MS during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on 9 May 2009.
IAF's Ilyushin Il-78 provides mid-air refueling to two Mirage 2000 fighter planes.
Il-78MKI in service with the Indian Air Force
A Pakistan Air Force Il-78 at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in 2013.
 Algeria
 Angola
  • Angolan Air Force – 1 Il-78 ordered from Ukraine in 2001. Disposed of refueling equipment and rebuilt into the Il-76TD standard.[14]
 China
  • Chinese Air Force – 3 Il-78MPs in service[15]
 India
  • Indian Air Force – 6 Il-78MKIs in service. The Indian Air Force refers to the aircraft as "MARS" (Mid Air Refuelling System) and has raised a new unit 78 Squadron. India is also considering procurement of six more Il-78 after scrapping deal with Airbus.[16]
 Libya
 Pakistan
  • Pakistan Air Force – 4 Il-78MPs were ordered from Ukrainian surplus aircraft stocks, fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ refueling pods.[10][11] The first of the four aircraft was delivered in December 2009.[18][19] A total of four Il-78MPs have been delivered to the PAF as of May 2012.
 Russia

Former operators
 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.[14][26]
    • 106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division – Uzyn Air Base, Kyiv Oblast[24]
      • 409th Aviation Regiment of tanker aircraft[25]
 United States
  • An Il-78 of the Ukrainian Air Force was bought and imported by North American Tactical Aviation Inc (NATA) in 2005, and flown to the United States in July 2006 with an intention to use the aircraft for contracted air refuelling operations to United States military. The aircraft latter passed under ownership of the Air Support Systems LLC and got an American civilian registration N78GF. Afterwards, it was mothballed at the North Texas Regional Airport, Texas for 2.5 years. In 2009, it departed from the airport with a Ukrainian crew hired by NATA and was heading to the Wittman Regional Airport, Wisconsin to refuel before leaving the United States on the way to Pakistan for phase aircraft maintenance. However, it was diverted to the Sawyer International Airport, Michigan where it is grounded until now. 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, PA. The aircraft is currently getting a cockpit upgrade for international operations.[27][28][29]

Refuelling Capability
Transferable Fuel Load in tons[30][31][32]
Distance Il-78 Il-78M
1000 km 42 74
2000 km 24 56
3000 km 15 40

Specifications (Il-78M)

Data from Ilyushin,[33] UAC[34]

General characteristics

  • Crew: six
  • Capacity: Max 100,000 kg payload (T-6 military jet fuel)[35]
  • 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
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See also

Related development

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 Midas Air-to-Air Refuelling / Transport Aircraft". Airforce Technology. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  3. IL-78 Midas Air-to-Air Refuelling / Transport Aircraft, Russia Archived 2014-08-30 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Gordon, Yefim; Kommissarov, Dmitriy (2002). Ilyushin Il-76, Russia's Versatile Airlifter. Midland. ISBN 1-85780-106-7.
  5. "Первый модернизированный самолет-заправщик Ил-78М2". bmpd.livejournal.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  6. "В Ульяновске выкачен первый самолет-заправщик Ил-78М-90А". bmpd.livejournal.com. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. 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.
  8. Mukherjee, Amit (September 29, 2004). "IAF to get 5th IL-78 refueller soon". The TImes of India. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  9. http://www.indian-military.org/air-force/support/air-to-air-refuellers/9-ilyushin-il-78mki-midas.html%5B%5D
  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. "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. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  13. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  14. "Судьба украинских самолетов-заправщиков Ил-78". bmpd.livejournal.com. 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  15. "Transport / Tanker Aircraft". SinoDefence. Archived from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  16. Sputnik (2 August 2016). "India considers buying Russian IL-78 after ending Airbus deal". rbth.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  17. "Ильюшин Ил-78 Бортовой №: 5A-DLL". russianplanes.net. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  18. "Pakistan Receiving IL-78 Refueling aircraft". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-12-08. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  19. "First aircraft tanker arrives in Pakistan: PAF". GEO Pakistan. December 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010.
  20. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  21. "43rd Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel DA". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  22. "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.
  23. "203rd Guards Orlovskiy Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  24. "106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division im. 60th anniversary SSSR". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  25. "409th Aviation Regiment of tanker aircraft". ww2.dk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  26. "Ил-78 на Украине". airwar.ru. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  27. "Il-78M Midas Ukraine". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  28. "N78GF Aircraft Registration". flightaware.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  29. "FAA Registry for N78GF". registry.faa.gov. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. "Ил-78МКИ - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  32. "Ил-78 - ОАО "Ил"". ilyushin.org. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  33. Archived 2014-06-04 at the Wayback MachineIlyushin.
  34. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)UAC.
  35. 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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