Ilyushin Il-38 "May"
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1961 · bomber
The Ilyushin Il-38 is the Soviet Navy's four-turboprop long-range maritime patrol aircraft, developed from the Il-18 airliner and distinguished by its far-forward wing placement and tail MAD boom.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | MAD boom extending from the tail, visually similar to the P-3 Orion but the wing is set much further forward on the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- MAD boom extending from the tail, visually similar to the P-3 Orion but the wing is set much further forward on the fuselage
- Four turboprops on a low straight wing — the forward wing position gives the fuselage a distinctively nose-heavy visual balance
- Soviet maritime patrol aircraft with a ventral search-radar fairing beneath the forward fuselage
At first glance it resembles the P-3 Orion, but the wing is set conspicuously further forward — almost over the nose — giving a different visual weight. Both have four turboprops and a MAD boom, but the P-3 has a balanced fuselage, while the Il-38 looks nose-heavy.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin Il-38 has a length of 40 m (131 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 37.42 m (123 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 645 km/h (401 mph).
- Typical crew: 10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the Ilyushin Il-18 commercial turboprop, the Il-38 entered Soviet Naval Aviation service in 1967 to hunt NATO submarines across the North Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific. India also operates a modernised version as the Sea Eagle. The type continues in Russian service.
Variants
The baseline Il-38 has been upgraded with the Novella-P38 mission system in Russian service. India's Il-38SD Sea Eagle adds a new western-style sensor suite.
Where you'll see it
The Il-38 serves with Russian Naval Aviation and the Indian Navy, patrolling ocean areas from bases in Russia and Goa. It was a familiar adversary for RAF Nimrods and USN P-3s during the Cold War.
Related aircraft
- Ilyushin Il-62
- Ilyushin Il-18
- Ilyushin Il-18D
- Ilyushin Il-54
- Tupolev Tu-95LAL
- Boeing B-52H Stratofortress
- Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B
- BAC TSR-2
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