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Il-76 - Protection

The Il-76 military transport aircraft is designed to operate in difficult conditions and in the presence of a number of serious threats. In this regard, from the very beginning he had various types of protection. In addition, they provided for the possibility of striking ground targets. Almost all aircraft available in the Russian Air Force have this configuration and corresponding capabilities. The main function of the Il-76 military transport aircraft is to transport people and various cargoes. However, it also has other capabilities directly related to military use. Thus, on board an aircraft there is a set of systems and weapons with which it can defend itself from an attack or attack an intended ground target.

Serial production of the Il-76 started in the early seventies, and at the same time they launched the process of creating new modifications, which continues to this day. During the development of the basic version of the aircraft, the design was refined, various systems and instruments were replaced. The means of protection were also improved. However, no fundamental changes were implemented.

In addition, in recent decades there has been a move towards abandoning some protection systems. Thus, the current latest version of the Il-76MD-90A aircraft does not have a rear cannon installation. In addition, the demonstrated samples of this type, leaving the factory, did not have devices for shooting DO and LTC. The exact composition of the radio-electronic equipment is also unclear.

The Il-76 was developed in the late sixties by order of the USSR Air Force. The troops needed a heavy-duty aircraft capable of transporting a variety of cargo and ensuring airborne landings. The intended functions and tasks had the most noticeable impact on the appearance, equipment and characteristics of the resulting aircraft.

In particular, it was believed that during the landing operation the transport aircraft would have to break through the enemy's air defenses. In this regard, he needed means for self-defense from radar, fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, it was proposed to give the aircraft limited strike capabilities. All these requirements were taken into account in the project.

To prevent or hinder detection by various means, the aircraft was equipped with devices for shooting dipole reflectors and false thermal targets. It was proposed to fight fighters or missiles with the help of a stern cannon installation. They also provided for the possibility of using free-falling bombs.

The IL-76's most notable self-defense weapon is the 9-A-503 cannon mount. It is located in the rear of the fuselage, under the cockpit glazing, and is intended to destroy air and ground targets in the rear hemisphere. The installation has remotely controlled guidance drives and carries two 23-mm double-barreled GSh-23 cannons. Each such weapon has a rate of fire of 3-4 thousand rounds/min.

The stern unit is controlled by a senior air gunner working in the cockpit next to it. At his workplace there is an optical sighting station with a collimator sight and a remote control. A Krypton radar sight with a ballistic computer is also provided, making it easier to hit high-speed targets. The Krypton antenna is located inside its own fairing above the cockpit glazing.

The cannon installation is intended for self-defense against fighters or missiles attacking from the rear hemisphere. The high characteristics of the two guns and the presence of developed control systems provide a high probability of hitting such a target. In addition, when flying at low altitude, the GSh-23 can be used against ground targets within the gunner's field of view. However, in this case, it becomes more difficult to find targets and the time for an attack is reduced.

Already in the first versions of the IL-76 project, measures were provided for protection against radar and infrared detection and/or guidance. With further modernization, such systems were preserved, but their composition and configuration changed several times. An invariable component of the IL-76 of various modifications and series built for the Air Force was the SPO-10 radiation warning station. According to her signals, the crew had to use the available countermeasures, the composition of which changed in different series. In the latest modernization projects it was planned to supplement it with ultraviolet missile launch warning sensors.

When irradiating an enemy radar or detecting a missile launch, the aircraft must use passive jammer guns. Initially, the Il-76 received four APP-50R assault rifles: two on the fairings of the main landing gear and two on the sides behind them. All of these systems held 384 rounds of decoys or chaffs. Later, the configuration and placement of the machines changed. Thus, later modifications receive a pair of such devices on the fuselage, while retaining the same ammunition load. Similar ASO-2I-E7r assault rifles were also introduced.

Some aircraft from different series and different years of production received electronic warfare equipment. Active jamming stations of the “Lilac” family or later systems of this kind were installed on them. However, it is somewhat known that most of the IL-76s built could only cause passive jamming.

The transport Il-76 is capable of delivering bomb attacks on ground targets. For this purpose, four universal beam holders UBD-3DA are provided on the wing consoles. Each of them carries one free-falling bomb with a caliber of up to 500 kg. Due to the lack of necessary control devices, the aircraft cannot use guided weapons. The navigator, who works in the forward glass cockpit, is responsible for the use of bombs. Bombs are dropped using the Kupol automated flight and navigation sighting system. There is also an NKBP-7 bomb sight with manual control.

The protection systems of Il-76 aircraft have been repeatedly tested in practice, both in training and in combat conditions. In local conflicts of recent decades, aircraft have faced the threat of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. In this regard, the crews had to constantly use APP-50R and LTC assault rifles for them. Such protection and competent actions of the crews gave the desired result - losses from MANPADS over the entire period were minimal.

In peacetime, Il-76 crews mainly carry out tasks of transporting people and cargo, and also participate in various exercises. In addition, they regularly have the opportunity to test their skills in using standard weapons. During such events, navigators attack ground targets with training bombs, and gunners fire from stern cannons.

The experience of such exercises shows that the Il-76 has a certain potential as an attack aircraft. Bombs with a caliber of up to 500 kg and 23-mm shells are capable of destroying enemy personnel, equipment and buildings. The accuracy of shooting and bombing generally corresponds to the assigned tasks and requirements. However, in terms of its combat qualities, the transport aircraft is significantly inferior to specialized bombers. Cannon and bomb weapons are considered solely as auxiliary means.

However, operating conditions and customer requirements are changing. As part of the latest modernization of the Il-76MD-90A, it was decided to abandon the aft cannon installation. At the same time, other units were used and new capabilities were obtained. And there is reason to believe that the increased level of protection fully compensated for the losses from the removal of cannon weapons.