The IL-76 is a medium-range military transport aircraft, and is also known by the Nato codename 'Candid'. The missions of the aircraft are: to drop paratroopers; carry troop forces and combat material with crews and armaments, including medium-sized battle tanks; to airlift cargo for troop forces and transport for disaster relief operations.
The IL-76 medium-range transport aircraft is produced by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Joint Stock Company in Moscow and the Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Over 500 aircraft have been produced since service entry in 1974.
There are several design variants, including the basic IL-76, IL-76M, IL-76MD and the IL-76-MF. In terms of design, aerodynamic configuration and flight performance characteristics, the IL-76M version virtually resembles the IL-76 basic aircraft, but has a maximum payload of 47t, compared to 28t for the IL-76.
"The IL-76 is a medium-range military transport aircraft."The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered three Il-76MD aircraft fitted with the Phalcon AEW (airborne early warning) system produced by Elta of Israel. The first aircraft is due for delivery in September 2008. In April 2008, the IAF requested the purchase of a further three aircraft for delivery in 2011–2012. In August 2005, Jordan ordered two IL-76MF variants and in September 2005, China placed an order for up to 38 IL-76 transports.
In August 2007, the Russian Air Force revealed the Il-76MD-90, which has new Perm PS-90A76 engines and upgraded Leninets Kupol-76M avionics.
IL-76 design
The aircraft is of a conventional aerodynamic configuration with a high-set, swept-wing and T-shaped tail unit. The crew cabin, cargo hold and rear compartment are pressurised. The beam-type fuselage has an oval section over the crew cabin and circular section over the cargo hold. The wing leading and trailing edges are fitted with high-lift devices, comprising deflectable five-section leading-edge slats, triple-slotted trailing-edge extension flaps, ailerons, spoilers and air brakes.
Cargo handling
The air-drop and cargo handling equipment is intended to load, unload and air drop paratroopers, materiel and cargo, make the optimum arrangement of the cargo according to the logistical demands of the mission, and securely tie down the materiel and cargo.
The equipment comprises a telpher (an overhead cargo system where the cargo can be suspended from an electrically powered rail), a roller conveyer, mooring / rigging, auxiliary parachute and ambulance equipment.
"Over 500 IL-76 transport aircraft have been produced since service entry in 1974."Weapon systems
The aircraft is equipped with a defensive aids suite, comprising a radar warner, jammer, infrared flare cartridges, chaff dispenser and two guns with a fire-control radar. Aerial bombs or radio beacons are suspended from external bomb racks on detachable pylons.
Avionics
The onboard equipment is intended to execute airlift and air drop missions by day and at night, in VFR and IFR (visual flight rules and instrument flight rules) weather conditions, as well as under hostile air defence conditions.
The integrated flight control and aiming-navigation system includes a compass system, ground surveillance radar, a central digital computer, automatic monitoring system, automatic flight control system, short-range radio navigation and landing system, IFF transponder, optical / infrared aiming sight and a ground collision warning system.
Engines
The IL-76M aircraft is powered by four D-30KP turbofan engines, mounted on underwing pylons and housed in individual pods secured on the engines.
Fuel is held in 12 integral tanks, which are isolated from each other. All fuel tanks are divided into four groups by the number of the engines. An inert gas system is used for protection against explosion.
IL-76MD variant
The IL-76MD variant has an increased flight range and service life. The powerplant and systems are identical to those of the IL-76M, and the structural changes have been made to its airframe only to accommodate the increased service life and increased take-off weight.
"The IL-76MD variant has an increased flight range and service life."When operating from first-category concrete runways, the aircraft's take-off weight has been increased from 170t for the IL-76M to 190t for the IL-76MD, mainly due to the increased fuel.
This enables a flight range increased by 40% with a maximum payload. The IL-76MD can be operated from unpaved runways in forward areas of operation.
IL-76MF variant
The IL-76MF aircraft is a derivative of the IL-76MD, with the fuselage lengthened by 6.6m. The new PS-90A-76 engines give a 25% higher take-off thrust (16,000kgf) than the D-30KP engines on the MD variant. The flight range is increased by over 20%, for example, the flight range with a 40t payload is 5,800km (compared to a range of 4,800km for the IL-76MD).
