ILYUSHIN Il-76

NATO reporting name: Candid
Indian Air Force name: Gajaraj (King Elephant)

Design began in late 1960s, led by G. V. Novozhilov, to replace the turboprop An-12.
The requirements were similar to commercial aircrafts, capable of lifting 40 tonnes of freight over a distance of 5000 km (3,107 miles) in under six hours.
Four years of testing confirmed excellent operating characteristics in the harsh, primitive conditions of central Siberia, no less than the hot-and-high environment of the Middle East.
The first prototype flew on March 25, 1971.
There were three prototypes and three static test airframes built at Khodinka.
An official 1974 film showed the development squadron of Il-76s, with twin-gun rear turrets, and as vehicles for airborne troops.
Series production began in 1975, and exceeded 800 by early 1994.
Seven were delivered for civil use in 1993 and production continues at Chkalov Plant, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

As Il-76T but military.
Up to 140 troops or 125 paratroops carried as alternative to freight.
Included rear gun turret containing two 23 mm twin-barrel GSh-23L guns.
Small ECM fairings between centre windows at front of navigator's compartment, on each side of front fuselage, and each side of rear fuselage.
Packs of ninety-six 50 mm IRCM flares on landing gear fairings and/or on sides of rear fuselage of aircraft operating into combat areas.

Initial cosmonaut training version, enabling occupants to experience brief periods of weightlessness.

Unarmed, generally as Il-76T but with strengthened wings and centre-fuselage.
Replaced old engines with the Aviadvigatel D-30KP-2 turbofans.
maximum T-O weight and payload increased, 10,000 kg (22,046 lb).
Additional fuel increases maximum fuel range by 648 n miles (1,200 km; 745 miles), and upgraded avionics.

Adaptation of Il-76MD to enable cosmonauts to experience several tens of seconds of weightlessness during training.

Stretched military version with four Aviadvigatel PS-90AN turbofans, each 156.9 kN (35,275 lb st).
New flight and navigation equipment includes Kupol III-76MF IFCS and CMCS.
Cargo hold lengthened. Length overall: 53.19 m (174 ft 6 in), height overall: 14.45 m (47 ft 5 in). Maximum payload and T-O weight increased.

Firefighting conversion of Il-76 demonstrated first in 1990.
Up to 44,000 kg (97,000 lb) of water/fire retardant can be carried in two cylindrical tanks in hold.
Includes a discharge, replenishment and draining system, and drop zone aiming devices.
Ip to 384 meteorological cartridges in dispensers for weather modification, able to water-bomb an area of 500 x 100 m (1,640 x 330 ft), or to carry, and parachute when required, 40 fully equipped firefighters, all airborne fire equipment can be installed in standard Il-76, or removed, in 4 hours.

Engine testbed conversion, carrying gas turbine of up to 245 kN (55,100 lb st), including turboprops, provisions for five test engineers.
Four Il-76LLs are available, on commercial contract basis, from Gromov Flight Research Institute.

Airborne command post version of Il-76MD, two examples photographed at Zhukovsky Flight Research Centre in 1992.
Design features include a large canoe-shaped fairing above fuselage forward of wings, containing satcom/IR equipment.
A ventral canoe-shape radome and strakes, five small antennae above centre-section, other small antennaes, and air intake scoops under front fuselage and at rear of main landing gear fairings.
Service designation: Il-82.

Airborne control post for Tu-160SK/Burlak space launch system.
One aircraft, conversion of Beriev Be-976.
Specialised variants and developments of Il-76 include transports modified to carry external loads, including Tu-160 tailplane above fuselage.
The AEW&C A-50 (`Mainstay') and Be-976 radar picket conversions.
The Il-78 (`Midas') flight refuelling tanker conversion.
The AEW&C Adnan 1 and single-point flight refuelling tanker modified for Iraq.

Descriptions apply to the Il-76T

Late 1960s requirement was to carry 40 tonnes of freight 2,700 n miles (5,000 km; 3,100 miles) in less than 6 hours, with ability to operate from short unprepared airstrips, in the most difficult weather conditions experienced in Siberia, the north of the Soviet Union and the Far East, yet simple to service and able to fly faster than An-12.
Wings mounted above fuselage to leave interior unobstructed, rear-loading ramp/door, unique landing gear, with two large external fairings for each main gear.

Four Aviadvigatel D-30KP turbofans, each 117.7 kN (26,455 lb st), in individual underwing pods.
Each pod on large forward-inclined pylon and fitted with clamshell thrust reverser.
Integral fuel tanks between spars of inner and outer wing panels.
Total fuel capacity: 109,480 litres (28,922 US gallons; 24,083 Imp gallons).