Refuelling Tankers for RuAF

Russia is a very large country. And the RuAF has 700+ IFR-capable planes.

Buddy refuelling is nice, but only it they use "old" Su-24M´s for this. Waste new Su-30SM´s to refuel Su-34´s in the air is

I´m totaly for multi-purpose transporters/tankers, like the Il-78M-90A. The Il-276 should be build this way from the start. If not needed as a freighter or tanker it could be used for VIP transport or MEDEVAC or even training of pilots and navigators. In the end the RuAF would need less planes.

The point is when you have 30 Su-34 in a theater, why relegate 10 of them to refuel the others? A dozen Il-276 tanker/transporters (or old S-24M´s) would be a better solution.

And if Trumpistan could afford the tankers it needs, why does it make 1 - 2 Trill. in fresh debt every year?

Il-96-400T cargo plane earmarked for conversion to an aerial refuelling tanker

GarryB wrote:Well, yes, a really big inflight refuelling transport plane can carry enough fuel for an entire flight of aircraft and would probably end up being cheaper...

Chasing multirole stuff is how the ended up with shortage of tanker planes

Use Il-76 for those units that have need for landing tankers on unprepared runways, leave all others for transport units

Use Il-96 tankers for everything else, cheaper and faster (probably hauls more fuel as well)

PapaDragon wrote:
Il-96-400T cargo plane earmarked for conversion to an aerial refuelling tanker

If it's not a secret What's your source for this?

The first modernized Il-78M2 tanker

According to spotters, on August 23, 2019, Zhukovsky rolled out and started taxiing tests of the first Il-78M refueling aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, upgraded to the level of Il-78M2 - aircraft with tail number "34 blue" (registration number RF-94272, factory 1013404138, serial number 79-05). Modernization work was carried out at the production site of PJSC Aviation Complex named after S.V. Ilyushin "(PJSC" Il ") in Zhukovsky.



The first modernized Il-78M2 refueling aircraft (tail number "34 blue", registration number RF-94272, serial number 1013404138, serial number 79-05) of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Zhukovsky, 08/23/2019 (c) Kirill Gnusarev / russianplanes.net (link)


Recall that, as previously reported by PJSC Il, the project to upgrade Il-78 and Il-78M tankers to the level of Il-78M2 (originally designated as Il-78-2) was developed by PJSC Il according to the tactical and technical assignment, which in 2011 was approved by the Russian Air Force in order to modernize the fleet of Il-78 and Il-78M tanker aircraft, as well as Il-76MD military transport aircraft. The specialists of PJSC EMZ named after V.M. Myasishchev. "

Modernization concerns flight and navigation, radio communications, lighting and domestic equipment, and defense equipment. Outdated (discontinued) equipment will be replaced with modern equipment; the designated aircraft life will be extended to 40 years. During modernization, parts are used interchangeably with the promising military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A and refueling aircraft Il-78M-90A.

On May 11, 2016, the first Il-78 (Il-78M) aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces arrived at the production site of PJSC Il in Zhukovsky for modernization, while the contractor stated that it was planned that the aircraft was re-equipped and prepared for the start of ground and flight tests were supposed to be completed in the I quarter of 2017. In fact, the modernization of the first side “34 blue” (registration number RF-94272, serial number 1013404138, serial number 79-05) was launched only in 2017 and completed only now.

According to known information, now the Russian Aerospace Forces have 19 combatant aircraft Il-78 and Il-78M.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3748865.html

State trials of Il-78MD-90A air tanker to be over in 2021 — source

At present, the aircraft has performed about a dozen out of 73 scheduled test flights

https://tass.com/defense/1077013

The first flight of the modernized IL-78-2 refueling aircraft

As the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) JSC reported on September 26, 2019, the upgraded IL-78-2 tanker aircraft made its first flight. Currently, the aircraft is preparing for the implementation of the preliminary testing program.



The first modernized Il-78-2 refueling aircraft (tail number "34 blue", registration number RF-94272, serial number 1013404138, serial number 79-05) of the Russian Air Force before the first flight. Zhukovsky, 09/26/2019 (c) United Aircraft Corporation JSC


“Under the modernization project, a new flight and navigation complex, defense and communications equipment were installed on the aircraft. During the work, the units unified with the promising military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A and the tanker Il-78M-90A were used. The service life of IL-78-2 has been increased, ”said the head of DTA, General Director of PJSC Aviation Complex named after S.V. Ilyushin »Yuri Grudinin.

IL-78-2 is a project for the modernization of IL-78 aircraft, developed by the SV Ilyushin Aviation Complex according to the tactical and technical specifications approved by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with a view to modernizing the fleet of IL-78 and IL-78M tanker aircraft .

Specialists of JSC “EMZ named after V. M. Myasishchev” were involved in the development of design documentation and work on the modernization of the aircraft.

As part of similar work on the serial modernization of military transport aircraft Il-76MD, two aircraft Il-76MD-M were transferred to the customer.


Comment by bmpd. Thus, in Zhukovsky, the first flight of the first Il-78M refueling aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces took place, upgraded to the level of Il-78-2 (Il-78M2)- an airplane with tail number "34 blue" (registration number RF-94272, serial number 1013404138, serial number 79-05). Modernization work was carried out at the production site of PJSC Aviation Complex named after S.V. Ilyushin "(PJSC" Il ") in Zhukovsky, the modernized aircraft was rolled out there on August 23, 2019.

Recall that, as previously reported by PJSC Il, the project to upgrade Il-78 and Il-78M tankers to the level of Il-78-2 (Il-78M2) was developed by PJSC Il according to the tactical and technical specifications, which In 2011, it was approved by the Russian Air Force in order to modernize the fleet of Il-78 and Il-78M tanker aircraft, as well as the Il-76MD military transport aircraft. The specialists of PJSC EMZ named after V.M. Myasishchev. "

Modernization concerns flight and navigation, radio communications, lighting and domestic equipment, and defense equipment. Outdated (discontinued) equipment will be replaced with modern equipment; the designated aircraft life will be extended to 40 years. During modernization, parts are used interchangeably with the promising military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A and refueling aircraft Il-78M-90A.

On May 11, 2016, the first Il-78 (Il-78M) aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces arrived at the production site of PJSC Il in Zhukovsky for modernization, while the contractor stated that it was planned that the aircraft was re-equipped and prepared for the start of ground and flight tests were supposed to be completed in the I quarter of 2017. In fact, the modernization of the first side “34 blue” (registration number RF-94272, serial number 1013404138, serial number 79-05) was launched only in 2017 and completed only now.

According to known information, now the Russian Aerospace Forces have 19 combatant aircraft Il-78 and Il-78M.





https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3785854.html

Smart move

Il-96 tankers and Tu-204 AWACS would take the load off Il-76 which are required for cargo role and it's dumb to waste them on stuff that regular airliners can handle

The Ministry of Defense signed the first serial contract for the latest tankers
05:28 18.12.2020

MOSCOW, December 18-RIA Novosti. Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and "Aviastar-SPsigned the first serial contract for the manufacture and supply of ten new IL-78M-90A tankeraircraft , the Russian Deputy Defense Minister said.Alexey Krivoruchko.
The contract was signed during Krivoruchko's working trip to Aviastar-SP in Moscow.In Ulyanovsk.
"The plant is entering a rhythmic mass production. The enterprise is provided with long-term orders from the Ministry of Defense and today another state contract was signed for the supply of ten promising Il-78M-90A tanker aircraft for the needs of the Ministry of Defense, which will further strengthen the financial and economic position of the enterprise and provide additional jobs to the Ulyanovsk region," the Defense Ministry said.
The new tanker is based on the IL-76MD-90A military transport aircraft and is equipped with four new-generation PS-90A-76 engines. The tanker's flight and navigation system has been completely updated, and a so-called glass cabin has been created to reduce the load on the crew and improve flight safety.
The IL-78M-90A will be able to simultaneously refuel two front-line aircraft, and it will be able to refuel long-range and special aircraft from the tail unit. When using the IL-78M-90A on the ground, it is assumed that four aircraft will simultaneously refuel.
At Aviastar-SP, Krivoruchko also supervised the production of IL-76MD-90A aircraft.
Previously, one prototype IL-78M-90A was produced, which is now continuing flight tests.

https://ria.ru/20201218/zapravschiki-1589827767.html