Il-78 Midas

The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a Soviet and Russian four-engined aerial refuelling tanker derived from the Il-76 strategic airlifter. Developed by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex and built at the Tashkent Aviation Production Association, it entered service in June 1987 and replaced converted bomber tankers such as the Tu-16 and M-4. It uses the probe-and-drogue method and can transfer between 57.7 and 105.7 tonnes of fuel depending on variant.

Development

The Soviet Union's first tankers were conversions of existing bombers, whose transfer capacity was judged insufficient for the Tu-22M and Tu-160 then entering service. Work on a purpose-designed tanker began in 1968 using the Il-76 as a basis; the standard Il-76 could offload less than 10 tonnes, so the higher-capacity Il-76MD was selected instead. The Il-78 first flew on 26 June 1983 and entered service in June 1987. The higher-capacity Il-78M flew on 7 March 1987. Between 1984 and 1993, Tashkent built 32 Il-78s, 13 Il-78Ms and one Il-78E.

Design

The Il-78 retains the general configuration of the Il-76MD. The tail turret is deleted and the refuelling operator occupies the former gunner's position. Three refuelling pods are fitted: one under each outer wing and one on the port side of the rear fuselage. The Il-78 uses three UPAZ-1 units, while the Il-78M carries two UPAZ-1s underwing and a higher-rate UPAZ-1M on the fuselage; the underwing pods serve tactical aircraft and the fuselage pod heavier types. Transfer rate is 900 to 2,200 litres per minute. The Il-78 draws on internal tanks plus two removable cargo-hold tanks, whereas the Il-78M has three fixed hold tanks and no cargo door or handling equipment. Power comes from four Aviadvigatel D-30KP turbofans of 118 kN each. Maximum take-off weight of the Il-78M is 210,000 kg, range 7,300 km, service ceiling 12,000 m, crew six.

Operational History

Soviet Il-78s served with the 106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division and the 409th tanker regiment at Uzyn, and were divided between Russia and Ukraine in 1991. Ukraine inherited 20 aircraft, several converted to transports, and later sold surplus airframes to Algeria (six, 1998–2003), Pakistan (four, delivered 2009–2011 as Il-78MP) and China (three, 2014–2016). India received six Il-78MKIs in 2003–2004, flown by No. 78 Squadron at Agra. Russia operated 19 Il-78/78Ms as of 2019 with the 203rd Guards Air Refuelling Regiment and the 43rd Center at Dyagilevo. Libya's single Il-78E, bought in 1989, was destroyed at Mitiga in 2015. An ex-Ukrainian aircraft registered N78GF has been grounded in the United States since 2009.

Variants

• Il-78: Original production version based on the Il-76MD, convertible to cargo use with the removable tanks taken out.
• Il-78M: Dedicated tanker with three permanent fuselage tanks, 210-tonne gross weight and 105.7 tonnes of transferable fuel.
• Il-78-2: Modernisation of existing Il-78/78Ms with updated cockpit, flare launchers and three UPAZ-1M pods, first rolled out 25 August 2019.
• Il-78MKI: Indian export version, six ordered in 2002, fitted with Cobham Mk.32B pods compatible with Western aircraft.
• Il-78M-90A: Variant based on the Il-76MD-90A, first flown 25 January 2018, with 10 ordered in December 2020.