IAF to Upgrade Il-76/78MKI Transport Aircraft & Aerial Refueler Fleet

[Chanakya's_Chant]

IAF moves Rs 4,000-crore proposal to upgrade IL76/78 transport fleet

Indian air force pilots walk away from their Il-76 medium cargo jet after landing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.​

Seeking to give new life to its fleet of Russian transport aircraft, the air force has moved a Rs 4,000-crore proposal to upgrade its ageing IL 76/78 aircraft in a deal that could have a substantial spin off for the private defence manufacturing sector.

In a fresh proposal that has been moved earlier this month, the air force has sought the defence ministry’s approval for a comprehensive upgrade of its fleet of 17 IL 76 transport aircraft, as well as the seven IL 78 aerial refuelers that it is operating.

Sources said that the upgrade contract would have a Rs 1,200-crore offsets value, a substantial portion of which is likely to be pumped into the private manufacturing sector that is already tying up with various Russian entities.

Known as the ‘Gajraj’ in the air force, the IL 76 was first ordered in 1983 and has been India’s main heavy lift aircraft before the arrival of the Boeing C 17 aircraft in 2013. The upgrade, sources said, includes new engines for the aircraft that will substantially increase its service life by up to 15 more years.

Source:- IAF moves Rs 4,000-crore proposal to upgrade IL76/78 transport fleet - The Economic Times

 

[Agent_47]

People prematurely said these would be retired by the induction of C-17s.
Who will actually replace these giants after 10 years?

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

People prematurely said these would be retired by the induction of C-17s.
Who will actually replace these giants after 10 years?

Most probably Airbus A400M's.

IAF impressed with Airbus A400M
- SP's MAI

 

[Agent_47]

Most probably Airbus A400M's.

IAF impressed with Airbus A400M
- SP's MAI

Bad choice IMHO, too expensive for our likes and requirements.(as we will already have C17 for strategic and MTA for tactical role). My pick would be An-70 with high Indian involvement. It was original il-76 replacement for russian air force.

 

[Abingdonboy]

People prematurely said these would be retired by the induction of C-17s.
Who will actually replace these giants after 10 years?

Well with the IAF's plans for 26 C-17s looking to be unrealised the IAF has been forced to upgrade the IL-76s. Ideally the IAF would have replaced all IL-76s with the C-17s but the closure of the Long Beach plant has poured cold water on these plans.

Bad choice IMHO, too expensive for our likes and requirements.(as we will already have C17 for strategic and MTA for tactical role). My pick would be An-70 with high Indian involvement. It was original il-76 replacement for russian air force.

Forget that-

1) Antonov has been ruined by the Crimean crisis and are in no position to build any such planes.
2) Being a turboprop this doesn't fit the criteria for the IAF of a swift strategic airlifter


Now the C-17 is off the cards (more than likely) I would bet the IAF will be ordering A400s within 6 years.

 

[GURU DUTT]

so 4000 Cr@610.53 million $$s to upgrade 15 medium airlifters what are these IAF guys smoking these days

 

[Abingdonboy]

so 4000 Cr@610.53 million $$s to upgrade 15 medium airlifters what are these IAF guys smoking these days

The number of a/c to be upgraded is 24- 17 IL-76, 7 IL-78MKI

 

[GURU DUTT]

The number of a/c to be upgraded is 24- 17 IL-76, 7 IL-78MKI

so whats on the menu here regarding the upgrade ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

so whats on the menu here regarding the upgrade ?

Engines, avionics, airframe treatment etc etc

 

[GURU DUTT]

Engines, avionics, airframe treatment etc etc

well my bad then .... sorry

 

[Archie]

so 4000 Cr@610.53 million $$s to upgrade 15 medium airlifters what are these IAF guys smoking these days

Its 4000 cr to upgrade 17 IL76 and 7 IL78, which translates to 25 Million USD to upgrade each airframe. This upgrade will add 15 years to the life of IL76 and probably 25 Years to the Life of newer IL78.
Also note that we paid 20000 Crores to purchase 10 C17s, compared to that, this deal would be a bargain and a sensible decision by IAF.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Its 4000 cr to upgrade 17 IL76 and 7 IL78, which translates to 25 Million USD to upgrade each airframe. This upgrade will add 15 years to the life of IL76 and probably 25 Years to the Life of newer IL78.
Also note that we paid 20000 Crores to purchase 10 C17s, compared to that, this deal would be a bargain and a sensible decision by IAF.

now i wonder why dint IAF went for it instead of going for 10 C-17s

 

[Abingdonboy]

now i wonder why dint IAF went for it instead of going for 10 C-17s

1) C-17 is FAR more capable than the IL-76
2)C-17 offers far higher levels of availability (Boeing are legally bound to deliver 85% fleet availability to the IAF)
3) The C-17s are BRAND NEW and will thus serve for 30+ years (if not more)- this upgrade will add only 10-15 years to the IL-76s and that is pushing them right to the edge

 

[Archie]

now i wonder why dint IAF went for it instead of going for 10 C-17s

C17s carry more load and land at places, the IL76 simply cant. Its also cheaper to maintain and offer 80-85% availability,
Infact once all C17 aircrafts are inducted, WE will have 8-9 airframes available at all time, which is similar to the number of IL76 Airframes available at any time

 

[Agent_47]

Well with the IAF's plans for 26 C-17s looking to be unrealised the IAF has been forced to upgrade the IL-76s. Ideally the IAF would have replaced all IL-76s with the C-17s but the closure of the Long Beach plant has poured cold water on these plans.

C-17s was never a replacement.If it was why don't they replace half the IL fleet so that we have 10 C-17s and upgrade the rest.It's need was born out of 'operation parakram' disaster for faster mobilisation. A country like india can never spend $10+ billion for a mere 26 transport aircraft. That was a pipe dream by import lobby in the IAF.

Forget that-

1) Antonov has been ruined by the Crimean crisis and are in no position to build any such planes.
2) Being a turboprop this doesn't fit the criteria for the IAF of a swift strategic airlifter


Now the C-17 is off the cards (more than likely) I would bet the IAF will be ordering A400s within 6 years.

We are talking about situation after 10 years. Who need a ready made aircraft when your aviation industry is matured enough to finish the product and mass produce it !. For strategic duties we have C-17s, what we need is something in between MTA and C-17. A400 is a turboprop and is intended in strategic role.

If we are upgrading IL-76 why do we need A400s ?!

so whats on the menu here regarding the upgrade ?

Developed from the Soviet-era Il-76 'Candid', the Il-76MD-90A features a digital 'glass' cockpit as well as modernised flight, navigation, and communication systems.


Structural improvements include a modified wing and reinforced landing gear. The engines have also been updated.

These upgrades give the aircraft a 60-tonne payload (up from 40 tonnes for the baseline Il-76) and a 12% reduced fuel consumption, enabling the Il-76MD-90A to fly up to 8,500 km with a 20-tonne load or 4,100 km with a 50-tonne load.

The Il-76MD-90A development is part of a wider revamp of the VVS's airlift capabilities that should see it replace much of its current Soviet-era stock with new and improved platforms by about 2020.


Besides the Il-76MD-90A, other programmes include the twin-jet Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) being co-developed with India; four turboprop Antonov An-70 through co-development with Ukraine; as well as restarting production with Ukraine of the An-124 'Condor'. However, technical, political, and economic problems have afflicted each of these projects to differing extents, calling into question the VVS's ability to field them in the required timeframe.

A different project that should run smoother, as it involves no foreign partners and few technical developments, is the Il-76MDM upgrade programme. Also based on the Il-76, the Il-76MDM involves fitting the same new avionics and systems as the Il-76MD-90A, but instead of being equipped with new PS-90A engines it will retain its original D-30KP powerplant.

This work is being carried out by the VVS's Military Transport Aviation (MTA) maintenance facility in Zhukovsky city, near Moscow, and will not involve Aviastar-SP.

The Il-76MDM upgrade process should increase the service life of 41 of the VVS's current Il-76MD fleet by a further 15 years, but at a third of the cost of buying brand new Il-76MD-90A aircraft.

First serial-production Il-76MD-90A airlifter makes maiden flight - IHS Jane's 360