Ilyushin Il-80 "Maxdome"
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1987 · transport aircraft
The Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO: Maxdome) is a Soviet/Russian airborne command post derived from the Il-86 widebody airliner, designed to carry national leadership and military command staff during nuclear conflict.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Soviet airborne command post based on Il-86 widebody |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet airborne command post based on Il-86 widebody
- No cabin windows — fully windowless fuselage
- Large dorsal satellite communication fairing behind cockpit
Distinguished from standard Il-86 by the absence of cabin windows, large dorsal hump antenna fairing, and additional blade antennas along the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin Il-80 has a length of 59.94 m (197 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 48.06 m (158 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 950 km/h (590 mph).
- Typical crew: 5 plus command staff.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the early 1980s as the Soviet counterpart to the US E-4B Nightwatch, the Il-80 entered service around 1987 with the Soviet Air Forces. It features extensive communications equipment, a windowless passenger cabin, and multiple satellite antenna fairings.
Variants
Four aircraft are believed to have been built; no named sub-variants are publicly confirmed.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces as a strategic airborne command platform; occasionally seen at Russian air displays.
Related aircraft
- Ilyushin Il-96
- Ilyushin Il-96-300
- Il-114
- Ilyushin Il-78
- Beechcraft C-12L Huron
- Boeing VC-25
- Cessna Citation V
- Learjet 31
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