Ilyushin Il-78

The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76.

Design and development

The Il-76 tanker was conceived as long ago as 1968, but the transferable fuel load for the initial version was only 10 tonnes, which was insufficient, so development was shelved. When the higher performance Il-76 became available the tanker project was restarted in 1982 as the IL-78.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to the increased fuel load of the late model IL-76, the IL-78 has two removable 18,230-liter fuel tanks installed in the freight hold, giving transferable loads of 85,720 kg (188,980 lb) (with hold tanks) or 57,720 kg (127,250 lb) (without). Controlled from the gunner station, which is stripped of military equipment, three aircraft can refuel in flight simultaneously from the UPAZ-1A (IL-78) / UPAZ-1M (IL-78M) 26m refuelling pods fitted to the outer wings and rear fuselage.^{[citation needed]} In addition, four aircraft can also be refuelled on the ground using conventional refueling hoses extending from the freight hold. Because of the aircraft's high all-up weight after take-off, which in an emergency would mean landing at weights well in excess of maximum allowable landing weight, the IL-78 has a fuel jettison system with jettison ports at the wingtips.^{[citation needed]}

Soon after the IL-78 passed acceptance tests in 1984, Ilyushin was instructed to design and produce an upgraded version to be known as IL-78M. The IL-78M is a dedicated tanker and cannot be converted back to the transport role easily. Adding a third freight hold tank increased transferable fuel to 105,720 kg (233,070 lb) and maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 210,000 kg (460,000 lb), necessitating reinforcement of the wing torsion box. UPAZ-1M refueling pods improved maximum fuel flow to 2,900 l/min ^[2] (638 Imp gal/min). Because the Il-78M is not "convertible", all cargo handling equipment was removed and cargo doors were deleted, saving approximately 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) in structural weight.^{[citation needed]}

Early versions of the IL-78 have the fuselage pod mounted on a short horizontal pylon, but the Il-78M has the fuselage pod suspended from an identical pylon to the wing pods, attached to a short stub wing. This modification was served to isolate the pod from turbulence generated by the fuselage, with the added benefit of commonality with the wing pod/pylon combination. Some IL-78s were produced with Aeroflot colors and civilian registrations, but production IL-78Ms received military markings, registration and color scheme.^{[citation needed]}

The majority of the twenty IL-78 aircraft on the strength of Ukrainian Air Force have been permanently converted to pure transports, freight hold tanks and refueling equipment being removed.^{[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 Force Base.^{[citation needed]}

Variants

Il-78

The Il-78 was the original production version with two removable fuselage tanks and 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[3]

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 6-8 Sukhoi Su-30MKIs in one mission.^[4][5]

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.^[6][7]

Operators

As of 14 March 2009, 34 Il-78s remain in operation.^[1]

 Algeria

• Algerian Air Force

 India

• Indian Air Force - operates 6 Il-78MKI (As of February 2011). The Indian Air Force refers to the aircraft as "MARS" (Mid Air Refuelling System) and has raised a new unit (No 78 Sqn).^{[citation needed]} The Il-78 and Airbus 330 MRTT are competing for the $1 billion global tender floated in 2006 by the Indian defence ministry for six refuellers.The result is expected in 2012.^[8]

 Pakistan

• Pakistan Air Force - 4 Il-78MP aircraft ordered from Ukrainian surplus aircraft stocks, fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ refuelling pods,^[6][7] first of 4 aircraft delivered in December 2009.^[7][9] A total of 4 Il-78MPs have been delivered to the PAF as of May 2012.

 Russia

• Russian Air Force operates 19 aircraft in the 203rd Guards Air Refueling Regiment.^[10]

 Ukraine

• Ukrainian Air Force operates 8 aircraft.^[11]

 United States

• North American Tactical Aviation, Inc. A private firm that was previously managed by Dwight Barnell, the company also known as "NATA" purchased several Il-78s for their outsourced, air to air inflight operations with various U.S. DoD agencies and sold the Il-78 FAA registered aircraft N78GF to Air Support Systems LLC, which then leased the aircraft to Tactical Air Support Systems Inc.^[12][13]
• Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc. A publicly traded company listed as a U.S. bulletin board stock (TADF.OB) that claims to operate an Il-78 for outsourced U.S. an NATO contracts for air to air inflight operations with various U.S. DoD agencies. Alexis Korybut is the CEO and Chairman, Marc Shubin is a Director and Chief Pilot of the company Tactical Air Services Inc.^[14][15]
• Air Support Systems LLC. A private company that is the registered owner on file with the FAA as N78GF. Air Support Systems LLC is owned by Gary Fears, an individual that is known for casino gaming ties to native American tribes throughout the U.S., Air Support Systems LLC., leased the Il-78 N78GF to Tactical Air Defense Services Inc. of which Gary Fears is the largest shareholder, along with Jamie Goldstein, Don Goldstein, Joel Ramsden, Dwight Barnell, Alexis Korybut and Michael Cariello.^[16][17][18]

Potential operators

•  Venezuela^[19]

Specifications (Il-78M)

Data from IL-78MKI Midas at Indian Military Database^[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: 6
• Capacity: 85,720 kg (188,980 lb) payload (fuel)
• 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', (oonifitseerovannyy podvesnoy agregaht 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: up to 1361 kg/min (3000 lbs/min)
• Powerplant: 4 × Aviadvigatel D-30 KP turbofan engines, 118 kN (27,000 lbf) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 850 km/h (528 mph; 459 kn)
• Range: 7,300 km (4,536 mi; 3,942 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.23

See also

Related development

• Ilyushin Il-76

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Vickers VC-10 tanker
• KC-135 Stratotanker
• KC-10 Extender

References

Notes

Bibliography

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilyushin Il-78.

• Il-78 at aviation.ru
• Museum of 203 regiment (Russian)
• Role of IL-78 strategic tanker in Pakistan Air Force www.PAFwallpapers.com
• IL-78MKI Midas at indian military database

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