Cookie Consent by Privacy Policies Generator

Ilyushin Il-38


NATO: May


Overview


Il-38N

Russian navy Il-38N with Novella upgrade on display in 2017.
Source: Alan Wilson - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Maritime patrol aircraft
Entered service
1969
Status
In service
Development
1960 - 1967 (design project)
1961 (first flight)
Developer
Soviet Union - Ilyushin design bureau
Production
1967 - 1972
Producer
Soviet Union - No. 30 machine-building plant
Number produced
65 aircraft produced
Designations
May (NATO reporting name)
Notable users
Soviet Union
Russia
India

Description


Introduction

The Il-38 is an early Cold War era maritime patrol aircraft of Soviet origin. Known in the West by the NATO reporting name "May". It was developed for anti-submarine warfare and can also be used for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and laying minefields. The Il-38 is operated from shore. It can be considered the Soviet/Russian counterpart to the American P-3 Orion.

Layout

The Il-38 is based on the Il-18 turboprop airliner. The airframe differs in having the wings located further forwards, a downwards facing radome is located just after the cabin and only the forward part of the fuselage is pressurized. The Il-38 features special navigation and computer systems. A variety of sonobueys and armament is carried inside. The crew consists of 7 people.

Submarine detection

Submarine detection is carried out using the Berkut-38 system and APM-60 or APM-73 magnetometer. The Il-38 can carry and drop a variety of sonobueys. These include up to 144 small RGB-1 radio beacons, 10 RGB-2 passive sonobueys and 3 RBG-3 or RGB-16 sonobueys with active/passive sonar. Various radio and datalink systems are present.

Firepower

The Il-38 can drop a variety of anti-submarine weapons. These include depth charges, naval bombs, mines and lightweight torpedoes. Indian Il-38 have been fitted with fuselage pylons for launching the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile.

Mobility

The Il-38 is a turboprop powered aircraft with four engines. Each AI-20M engine provides up to 4.250 hp. The maximum speed is 650 km/h. Combat range with full payload is 2.200 km. Ferry range is up to 9.500 km.

Users

The Il-38 was acquired by the Soviet Union and 5 out of the total of 65 aircraft were exported to India. Soviet analysis in the late 1970's concluded that the Il-38 was less capable than the American P-3 Orion, mainly due to the limited quality of RGB-1 sonobueys. An upgrade program started in the 1980's. This was delayed due to the fall of the Soviet Union. Indian Il-38 have received the upgrade, named Sea Dragon for export. Subsequently a number of Russian aircraft have received a similar upgrade called Novella.

Variants


Il-38

Production model of the Il-38. All aircraft were produced to this standard, with only minor differences in avionics suite.

Il-38SD

Indian aircraft modified in Russia with the "Sea Dragon" upgrade. This features new radar, improved navigation systems, FLIR system under the nose and ELINT system on struts above the cabin.

Il-38N

Russian "Novella" upgrade for domestic use. Fitted with similar or more up to date upgrades as Indian Sea Dragon.

Details


Facts Il-38
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Maritime patrol aircraft
Crew
7 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radar operator, ASW operator, flight engineer, flight attendant)
Dimensions
Length
40.08 m
Height
10.12 m
Width
37.4 m
Wing area
140 m²
Empty weight
34.7 t
Max take-off weight
68.0 t MTOW
52.2 t max landing weight
Propulsion
Engine setup
4x turboprop with 4-blade propellers
Powerplant
4x AI-20M with AB-64 propeller
Power output
4.250 hp each
17.000 hp combined
Propeller diameter
4.5 m
Fuel
26.650 kg
Flight characteristics
Speed
650 km/h at 6 km altitude
Range
2.200 km combat radius
9.500 km ferry range
Ceiling
8.0 km
Take-off run
1.7 km
Systems
Sensors
APM-60 or APM-73 magnetometer
Electronics
Berkut-38 ASW processing system
Sonobueys
Up to 144 RGB-1
Up to 10 RGB-2
Up to 3 RGB-3
Up to 3 RGB-16 (Il-38N only)
Armament
Hard points
Internal bomb bay
Weapon load
5.4 t normal
8.4 t maximum
Depth charges
PLAB-50
PLAB-250-120
PL-250-120
Torpedoes
450mm AT-1
533mm AT-2
400mm AT-3 Orlan (air launched UMGT-1)
APR-1 Kondor rocket torpedo
APR-2 Yastreb rocket torpedo
Naval mine
AMD-2

Media


Related articles


AT-3 Orlan

The AT-3 Orlan is a lightweight torpedo and is one of Il-38's most potent anti-submarine weapons.

Sea Eagle

The Il-38 in Indian service have been modified to carry and launch the British Sea Eagle anti-ship missile.