Ilyushin Il-38 May

Summary

Description

The Ilyushin Il-38, known by the NATO reporting name "May," is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. It originated from the Ilyushin Il-18 turboprop transport, designed to counter American ballistic missile submarines. Development was mandated by a joint directive on June 18, 1960, which called for a prototype for trials by the second quarter of 1962. The design utilized the fuselage, wing, tail unit, engine nacelles, powerplant, and flight deck of the Il-18. An aerodynamic prototype first flew on September 28, 1961, followed by the initial production aircraft in September 1967. Production ceased in 1972, coinciding with the introduction of the Tupolev Tu-142, a derivative of the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber.

The Il-38 adaptation from the Il-18 involves moving the wings forward by 3 meters. Unlike the Il-18, only the forward fuselage is pressurized. A Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) is located in the tail, and the "Berkut" search radar, known as "Wet Eye" by NATO, is housed in a bulged radome under the forward fuselage. The aircraft features two internal weapons bays: one forward of the wing for sonobuoys and another behind the wing for weapons. Upgraded Il-38N aircraft feature the Novella P-38 system, capable of tracking 32 above- and underwater targets simultaneously, detecting air targets at ranges of up to 90 kilometers, and surface objects within a radius of 320 kilometers.

The Il-38 carries up to 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of stores within its two internal weapons bays. This payload can include depth charges, naval mines, and torpedoes. Indian Navy Il-38s were modified to carry Kh-35E or Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles on external pylons.

The Il-38 primarily served with Soviet and later Russian Naval Aviation, operating from the Northern, Pacific, and Baltic Fleets. A squadron of Il-38s was stationed in Cairo, Egypt, from March 1968 until 1972, operated by Soviet crews under Egyptian markings. During the Cold War, overseas deployments included operations from Aden, Asmara, Libya, and Syria. In 1984, an Il-38 was destroyed at Asmara during a commando raid. Post-Cold War, the Il-38 continued service with the Russian Navy’s Arctic and Pacific Fleets. India acquired Il-38s starting in 1977 and again in 1983, subsequently modifying them for anti-ship missile carriage and upgrading their avionic suites. Following a mid-air collision in 2002, additional aircraft were procured from Russia. The Indian Navy retired its final three Il-38 aircraft on October 31, 2023.

Main Variants:

• Il-38: The original production maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, serving as the baseline model.

• Il-38M: A modified version equipped with a receiver probe for a probe-and-drogue air refueling system, though this system was ultimately not adopted.

• Il-38SD: Sometimes referred to as Il-38SD for Sea Dragon, an improved variant featuring a new search and tracking system.

• ISD-38MZ: A tanker variant of the Il-38, though only a prototype was produced.

• Il-38N: An improved variant of the Il-38, equipped with the Novella P-38 search and tracking system, enhancing its capabilities to detect and track both aerial and underwater targets.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Russia	21
	India	4

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

India • Russia • Ex-USSR

Photo of Il-38 May