Ilyushin Il-78
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1983 · transport aircraft
The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name 'Midas') is a Soviet-designed four-engine aerial refuelling tanker based on the Il-76 strategic airlifter, capable of simultaneously refuelling up to three receiver aircraft via underwing and fuselage hose-and-drogue units. It remains the primary tanker of Russia, Ukraine, China, India, Algeria, and several other air forces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Derived from Il-76 airlifter — same slab-sided fuselage and distinctive glazed nose navigator station |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engine high-wing jet with three underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods
- Derived from Il-76 airlifter — same slab-sided fuselage and distinctive glazed nose navigator station
- Large fuel tanks in the hold displace cargo capacity on the dedicated tanker variant
Essentially an Il-76 with the rear freight ramp deleted and three refuelling pods added — two under the outer wings and one on the rear left fuselage. The glazed nose and T-configuration tail are inherited from the Il-76 family.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin Il-78 has a length of 46.59 m (153 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 50.5 m (166 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 850 km/h (528 mph).
- Typical crew: 5-7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in the early 1980s to provide the Soviet Air Forces with a dedicated strategic tanker. The Il-78 first flew in 1983 and entered service in 1987. Following the Soviet collapse, production continued at the Tashkent plant in Uzbekistan (now Aviastar-SP in Ulyanovsk) and the type has been exported widely.
Variants
The Il-78M is the main production tanker with enlarged fuel capacity; the Il-78MK-90A is a modernised export variant. The convertible Il-78T can revert to a freighter role by removing the fuselage fuel tanks.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Russia, Ukraine, India (designated Il-78MKI), China, Algeria, Pakistan, and others; a key asset in enabling long-range strategic strike and maritime patrol missions for these air forces.
Related aircraft
- Ilyushin Il-102
- Ilyushin Il-80
- Ilyushin Il-96
- Ilyushin Il-96-300
- Airtech CN-235
- Beechcraft RC-12G
- CASA/IPTN CN-235M
- Cessna T-47A
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