Ilyushin Il-78 Midas Aerial Refueling Tanker

Efran Syah       Tanker Aircraft    Comment   

(David Bracci — Flight Line Images)

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

(Dmitry Terekhov)

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.

(Aleksandr Markin)

The maiden flight of Il-78 took place on 26 June 1983 and the aircraft entered into service in 1984. About 53 aircraft are currently operational worldwide.

(Nikolay Pominov)

The Il-78 aircraft has been developed on the basis of the Il-76MD and is designed to refuel in the air long-range aircraft and frontline aviation during day time and nighttime, and in conditions of poor visibility, in order to widen their operational range.

(Andrey Rakul)

The cargo compartment contains two fuel tanks. With the help of three unified suspended-type refueling devices (UPAZ) installed under outer wing panels and in the aft part of the fuselage, the transmission of fuel from fuselage tanks and wing boxes is possible.

(Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

The Il-78 may be used for transporting fuel to the maneuvering airfield and refueling aircrafton the ground. The Il-78 transfers fuel solely through deployment of the probe-and-drogue refueling method. The Il-78 aircraft can refuel a maximum of four planes simultaneously on the ground.

(Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

The Il-78 has a total transferable fuel load of 85,720 kg (188,980 lb), which includes 28,000 kg (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 kg (22,000 lb).

(via thamlevan.violet.vn)

The Il-78 can fly at a maximum speed of 850 km/h. The range and service ceiling of the aircraft are 7,300 km and 12,000 m respectively. The aircraft weighs around 72,000 kg and the maximum take-off weight is 210,000 kg.

(Vortaxg)

If necessary, the aircraft can be refitted under field conditions as a transportation plane for carrying military personnel, equipment, cargo and ill/wounded people.

(Kirill Naumenko)

Variants

• Il-78. The original production.
• Il-78T. Alternative designation for Il-78 due to retention of all cargo handling equipment and convertible freight hold.
• Il-78M. The Il-78M equipped with three permanent fuselage tanks, a higher gross weight of 210 tonnes, and no cargo door or cargo handling equipment.
• Il-78M2. Modernization of Il-78/78M
• Il-78M-90A. An upgraded variant based on the Il-76MD-90A.
• Il-78ME. Export version of Il-78M.
• Il-78MKI. Customized variant of the Il-78ME for the Indian Air Force.
• Il-78MP. Multi-role aerial refuelling tanker/transport aircraft, with removable fuel tanks in cargo hold and UPAZ refuelling pods, for the Pakistan and Chinese Air Force.

(via airwar.ru)

Operators

• Algerian Air Force – 4 Il-78
• Angolan Air Force – 1 Il-78
• Chinese Air Force – 3 Il-78MP
• Indian Air Force – 6 Il-78MKI
• Libyan Air Force – 1 Il-78E
• Pakistan Air Force – 4 Il-78MP
• Russian Air Force – 19 Il-78/78M.

Former operators

• Soviet Air Forces
• Ukrainian Air Force
• United States.

(Gleb Osokin - Russian AviaPhoto Team)

Specifications (Il-78M)

• Crew: 6
• Capacity: Max 100,000 kg payload
• 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', 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
• 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
• Calendar operating life: 35 years
• Number of flights: 6,000 hours
• Number of flight:  8,000 hours