What will be the Il-96VKP air command post

IL-80 air command post. Photo Wikimedia Commons

A few days ago, the domestic media reported on the start of construction of the first air command post (VKP) based on the Il-96-400M aircraft. This machine is intended to support the activities of the country's top military and political leadership and in the future will have to replace the existing VKP Il-80.

Road to construction

At the turn of the eighties and nineties, the forces of the OKB im. Ilyushin and related organizations, a strategic air command post of the first generation Il-80 with an onboard complex of radio equipment "Link" was created. After its adoption, work began on the creation of a modernized complex "Link-2". For various reasons, the completion of this work was delayed, and the first VKP with a new complex was tested only in 2015.

In the same year, it became known that the United Instrument-Making Corporation was already carrying out development work for Zveno-3C. Its purpose was to create a new version of the radio-technical complex for the strategic VKP of the next model.

Soon it became known that the new control aircraft could receive the designation Il-96VKP. The promising airliner Il-96-400M, which at that time was at the design stage, was chosen as a platform for placing special equipment. Other details were not disclosed. In addition, over the next few years, no new messages about the Il-96VKP were received.

Two Il-80 in Aeroflot livery and Il-82 (in the background), 2012. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

July 26, 2021 RIA News, referring to a source in the military-industrial complex, announced the start of the construction of new equipment. The source indicated that the Ministry of Defense ordered two promising VKPs at once. The first of them is already being built by the Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company (VASO). In the future, an order for a third aircraft is possible.

According to RIA Novosti, the new Il-96VKP will replace the cash Il-80 in the future. Due to the new platform in the form of the Il-96-400M, such command posts will have higher flight and operational characteristics.

In terms of its functions, the promising VKP as a whole will not differ from its predecessor. Its task will be to evacuate the country's top military and political leadership and ensure its activities during a threatened period and during a full-scale conflict, incl. with nuclear missile strikes. The on-board radio-technical complex will provide a full-fledged data exchange and command and control of troops, including strategic nuclear forces.

According to known data

The composition, functions and characteristics of the Zveno and Zveno-2 onboard complexes used on the Il-80 aircraft are classified due to their special role and significance for national defense. The same applies to the promising Zveno-3C project. It is only known that the Zveno / Il-80 projects provide for the installation of various means of communication, control and data processing, and various antenna devices appear outside the carrier aircraft. In addition, residential and utility compartments will appear on the plane to accommodate crews, operators and dignitaries.

Il-80 after modernization with Zvena-2 installation. Photos of the defense industry complex

Apparently, the Il-96VKP will not fundamentally differ from the previous VKP. It will receive the most up-to-date digital equipment with high performance and wide control capabilities for all branches of the armed forces. In addition, external radome antennas will again be used to give the aircraft its distinctive appearance.

The IL-3-96M aircraft became the platform for Zvena-400S. This is a wide-body long-haul airliner, which is the latest modification in its family at the moment. Due to a number of innovations, the main technical and operational characteristics have been increased, as well as compliance with modern requirements has been ensured. Construction of new Il-96-400M began in 2018 at VASO.

The new "96M" aircraft differs from the base IL-300-400 in an extended fuselage of a larger volume, which allows to increase the payload. In addition, modern avionics have been used to reduce the workload on the pilots. Thanks to this, the flight crew of the Il-96-400M and Il-96VKP is reduced to 2 people. The aircraft also receives new PS-90A1 engines with improved performance.

To transform into an Il-96VKP, the base aircraft must undergo certain modifications. Probably, during the design, the airframe was strengthened and part of the general aircraft systems were rebuilt. In particular, a command post with a lot of electronics needs special power supplies. Measures are also needed to improve the reliability of all systems. Taking into account the specifics of the application, the VKP needs an in-flight refueling system.

VKP Il-82 on the basis of Il-76MD. Photo Wikimedia Commons

The platform in the form of the Il-96-400M, having higher characteristics, can provide the VKP with new capabilities. Thus, the payload of the later modifications of the Il-96 reaches 58 tons versus 42 tons for the older Il-86. The flight range of the Il-96 with a maximum take-off weight exceeds 8-8,5 thousand km; for the Il-86, this parameter was less than 4 thousand km. The availability of refueling facilities will further increase the flight range and duration of duty.

Perspective replacement

According to known data, the park of the strategic VKP of the Russian armed forces is not very large. The aerospace forces have only four Il-80 aircraft. One or two of these VKPs were modernized with the installation of a modern complex "Link-2". The rest still retain the equipment of the previous version, but the possibility of their modernization cannot be ruled out. Also in the ranks there is a pair of Il-82 (Il-76VKP) aircraft, the equipment and tasks of which are generally similar to the Il-80.

Of the four existing Il-80s, only three are ready for operation and use. The fourth last year was sent for repairs to the TANTK im. Beriev. While at the airfield, this Il-80 was attacked by intruders who boarded and stole part of the secret equipment. The further fate of this aircraft has not yet been revealed. It will probably be rebuilt according to the original or modernized design.

According to the latest news, the Ministry of Defense has ordered two new Il-96VKP aircraft. Construction of the first has already begun, and the second will begin to be assembled in the foreseeable future. It is also possible that an order for the third VKP of the new model will appear. The timing of the completion of construction and testing is not specified, but it is clear that this work will take several years. The first Il-96VKP will be able to enter service no earlier than the middle of the decade.

The first passenger Il-96-400M under construction, January 2020. Photo by UAC

The appearance of two or three new aircraft will seriously renew the fleet of the existing VKP. In addition, new technical and operational capabilities will be obtained, which should positively affect the solution of strategic management problems. It will also be possible to decommission the oldest aircraft, which by that time will become obsolete and have worn out their service life.

Special role

At the moment, the Russian Aerospace Forces have at their disposal a fairly large and developed fleet of strategic air command posts that meet current requirements and challenges. At the same time, measures are being taken aimed at its development - a project for the modernization of existing equipment has been implemented and a completely new model has been developed.

Thanks to this, in the short and long term, the park of domestic strategic VKPs will be able to maintain the required number and appearance, ensuring the fulfillment of all assigned tasks. At the same time, the characteristics of specific samples will grow, increasing the overall efficiency and stability of the strategic loops of command and control of the armed forces - with obvious consequences for national security.

Comments

[ccsr]

This machine is intended to support the activities of the country's top military and political leadership and in the future will have to replace the existing VKP Il-80.

All this is whim and squandering of money for an empty undertaking. It would be better if these funds were spent on modernizing the military strategic missile carriers of the Aerospace Forces - there would be more benefits for Russia. The top military and political leadership of the country will not have time to reach these command posts - the war will end faster, so it is better to let the protected command post control the country in a critical situation.

[dauria]

The top military and political leadership of the country will not have time to reach these command posts - the war will end faster,

The war begins and ends quickly. This is not the Chelyabinsk meteorite,
you will find out in two weeks. And the leadership was even earlier. Here on the "great drape" of relatives and close ones and you will find out. And the exchange of nuclear strikes is not the end, but only the very beginning. Until the general government of the country is lost, the war is not lost.

[ccsr]

Quote: dauria

And the nuclear exchange is not the end

Of course not the end - the Lord will accept you for a new life ...

Quote: dauria

The war begins and ends quickly.

I am afraid that your optimism is not supported by anything other than your assumptions.

[paul3390]

Here, by the "great drape" of relatives and close ones, you will find out

Interesting - where will they skedaddle? All their habitats will clearly be under attack ..

[mark1]

Towards the Ural mountain range (or some other Russian urban aggregation)

[dauria]

Interesting - where will they skedaddle?

Wrong question. Not where, but from where ... From megacities for sure.

[tima_ga]

Yes, everyone will remain in Moscow, within the missile defense system of the Moscow industrial region :)

[dauria]

within the missile defense system of the Moscow industrial region:

Well yes. It’s clear to the horse that the missile defense system will not miss a single warhead. Unlike some village Kulmanovka. There is also no missile defense. Truth and goals worthy of a nuclear weapon in the district for 500 miles can not be found. When Chernobyl exploded, the families of the entire party top rushed from Kiev before the announcement in the media. And there was just an increase in the background to the usual in the same Nerchinsk ZabVO. You do not know our rulers well. There are no fools there. But there are a dime a dozen of cunning egoists and opportunists who can crawl through and survive.

[Aleksandr97]

What's New Zealand too ????

Rothschilds, who are slowly moving to New Zealand. The motives for the move are not completely clear, but given the fact that the elite are building bunkers at the new location, one can assume that there is an impending catastrophe on a global scale.
It was recently revealed that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos traveled to New Zealand several times to check on the construction of the bunker.
In 2017, Harcourts real estate agency selected an elite area for Jeff to build a shelter. The superbunker has been under construction from July to the present day.
If you believe the rumors, the company Del Mar is engaged in the arrangement of the site. Twenty people can live in the shelter for three years without outside benefits, that is, everything will work autonomously.
It is worth noting that Bill Gates began building a bunker in New Zealand back in 2015.

[knn54]

At the end of last year, unknown persons opened the hatches of the "Doomsday plane" - one of the most secret military aircraft, which was being repaired in Taganrog. Electronic equipment was stolen from the Il-80.
We cannot exclude the possibility of determining how technically the transfer of instructions on the leadership of the country and the armed forces in case of war is carried out.
Was it not this event that accelerated the promising replacement?

[tima_ga]

Let's dream up. The state security bodies set up a couple of "idiots" for recruiting the enemy, who stole the equipment prepared in advance from the plane and betrayed the "partners" to be caught red-handed ... And then, further, it was used in the negotiation process to achieve their goals. These are fantasies, but in every fantasy there is, as you know, a grain of fantasy :)
Don't think of it as trolling.

[carstorm 11]

The evacuation of the first persons is a proven scheme with a huge number of scenarios. If you lose control during the war, this is the end. The system will not be able to function. Protected command posts are static and they cannot quickly change their location, as everyone understands.

[A009]

I began to read your comment and thought - "it requires to distribute to pensioners" but I did not guess. You turned out to be more original)

[Ros 56]

This secret is great. This is not for the curious, after all, not a toy, but a strategic vehicle.

[UVB]

Kirill in his own style - inflate the minimum of information to the maximum size of the publication. And the constant repetitions are already straining.

[Vadim Ananyin]

It’s hard and long to create, painful in fact, it’s easier and easier to break — you don’t need much. If we assume that 15 years out of 30 broke down, then we haven’t gotten to the handle yet, it pleases.
Personally, Putin and Shoigu do not need him, I think so, the country needs him for its existence and defense.

[ccsr]

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

Personally, Putin and Shoigu do not need him, I think so, the country needs him for its existence and defense.

Our armed forces do not need it at all for two reasons - firstly, it is an unmasking sign that reveals our intentions already upon takeoff, and secondly, the control system of this command post is susceptible to interception and suppression by means of electronic warfare.
And what for a goat such a button accordion?

[tralflot1832]

In 2014, this plane has always been with the first persons! So it has blown away!

[ccsr]

Quote: tralflot1832

In 2014, this plane has always been with the first persons! So it has blown away!

This does not mean anything, if only because nothing in the confrontation with NATO at that time has changed in terms of combat readiness, as far as I know. And sometimes they unobtrusively demonstrate their usefulness to ignorant people - this trick is still used by some officials, just look at Putin's television meetings.

[tralflot1832]

Did you personally report on what level of combat readiness our troops were in 2014? And what do you dislike about Putin's meetings with officials. At least you can see who is worth what.

[ccsr]

Quote: tralflot1832

Did you personally report on what level of combat readiness our troops were in 2014?

Personally, the minister did not report to me, but I communicate with those who are just monitoring all the changes in the situation, and I do not remember that they were soaring about this at that time.

Quote: tralflot1832

And what do you dislike about Putin's meetings with officials?

Window dressing and verbiage. You just need to take tougher administrative measures, and not explain to us for decades the common truths that we perfectly learned back in the Soviet Union. Yes, Ragozin, after the very first unsuccessful launch, would have fled from his post and would have found a replacement among the professionals. And he, like other officials of his class, still show us the bright path.

Quote: tralflot1832

At least you can see who is worth what.

Well, what was Dimon worth for so many years under Putin, if no one still understands why he was kept?

[Vadim Ananyin]

I don’t know about the button accordion, I don’t know how to play musical instruments. Of course, it is possible to track down, but ground-stationary control points, as well as transmitting nodes and receiving ones, are tracked even faster and fixed. Destroyed in 5 sec. And what about interception and suppression is also not a fact, closed communication channels in 84-86, and even then not all were intercepted, let alone unpacked, sometimes too time was needed. Then Zas was different, and we and they have even more abruptly, but they do not have a particularly bad package kchm. And in pseudo-sich mode, it's generally difficult,

[ccsr]

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

Of course, it is possible to track down, but ground-stationary control points, as well as transmitting nodes and receiving ones, are tracked even faster and fixed.

This aircraft will be tracked even more strongly than our strategic missile carriers, especially since this can now be done in real time.

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

And what about interception and suppression is also not a fact, closed communication channels in 84-86, and even then not all were intercepted, let alone unpacked, sometimes it took too much time.

They will stupidly press all the operating frequencies of control with this aircraft, as soon as it appears in the zone of operation of electronic warfare - they will reconnoiter this in advance, including satellite channels.

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

Then Zas was different, and we and they have even more abruptly, but they do not have a particularly bad package kchm.

It is forbidden to put pressure in peacetime, because there are a number of agreements, which is why everything passes. As soon as something serious begins, everyone will not give a damn about the restrictions and we should pre-lay on the option that there will be no normal control from the board, so that June 22 does not happen again.

[Vadim Ananyin]

And we, of course, on the territory there are nato rabbits that will crush this military commander in the Urals, let's say? I have no doubt that they will be crushed when approaching the borders, plus there are a number of measures that will not make it so easy to detect it.

[ccsr]

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

And of course we have nato rabbits on our territory that will crush

No, they will place them on LEO satellites for such an aircraft. The option of a high-altitude UAV or on probes is possible.

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

This is what they will crush when approaching the borders, I have no doubt about it,

They will start to interfere sooner, and there is nothing we can do about it.

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

there are a number of measures that will not make it so easy to detect it.

I guarantee you that we will never be able to hide this "cow" during the flight, even if the plane is flying in radio silence, because our radars will track it anyway. And then it's a matter of technology.

[Vadim Ananyin]

So you answered your question, if everyone everywhere on the air will press MWT-mi, then I somehow doubt that it is possible to achieve tracking of objects even from a satellite.
Here the stick is not only the end 2, but even in the 10th degree. By the way, such cows fly as you call them, and there will be more than ours, and satellites are no longer a panacea - the all-seeing eye, the vigilant one, can also make an over-keel.

[ccsr]

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

Mvt-mi somehow I doubt that it is possible to achieve tracking of objects even from a satellite.

Perhaps - for example, in the infrared range it will be possible to track such a flight, if such a task is initially set. As for the electronic warfare equipment, from a distance of 400 km, it is possible to pressurize not with megawatts, but with significantly less power, and this will already lead to failures in control systems.

Quote: Vadim Ananyin

By the way, the staff have such cows flying as you call them and will be more than ours,

It is unlikely that they will put their president and their commanders on these boards during the threatened period. For operational measures in a certain region during a war by conventional means, these aircraft are suitable, but not the leaders of the state are sitting in them. But we should not blindly copy everything from the Americans - they are still those wise men there, they know how to cut the budget worse than us.

[Filosoff]

But what about anti-satellite weapons? Yes, and also, as a result of any military maneuvers and exercises, periodically entire AUGs are lost from sight by tracking systems, and here we are talking about an aircraft that moves an order of magnitude faster, and it will be smaller ...

[ccsr]

Quote: Filosoff

But what about anti-satellite weapons?

As far as I remember, until recently, about 40 satellites of the Americans, we could not identify at all by their purpose. And how many of them are used as dual-use with functions hidden in peacetime, we are unlikely to find out even after the start of the war. Therefore, it is necessary to approach anti-satellite weapons very carefully, given that we do not know for certain which ones should be destroyed in the first place. And it is difficult to do all this in peacetime.

Quote: Filosoff

and here we are talking about an airplane that moves an order of magnitude faster, and it will be smaller ...

Four operating engines cause such a thermal disturbance at altitudes of 6-10 km that during their infrared analysis and plus the analysis of the operation of onboard radars and altimeters, including the "friend or foe" identification systems, that the flight route of this aircraft will be automatically calculated and predicted. The flight speed in this case does not play any role, because it does not exceed 1000 km / h.

[Ryaruav]

not a single new 4-engine aircraft in 30 years sorry this is an ass

[A009]

I will tell you more, in all likelihood more, in civil aviation, four-engine aircraft will not be designed and built by any country. At least on these principles of building aviation (subsonic, hydrocarbon fuel)

[Disant]

https://topwar.ru/185453-voenno-transportnyj-il-76md-90a-mogut-sertificirovat-dlja-grazhdanskogo-rynka.html
"The new Russian military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A can be certified for the civilian market, this prospect is being considered." - This was announced by the first deputy head of the UAC Sergey Yarkovoy.

[A009]

Well, this is an existing aircraft, albeit one that changes its specification.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: A009

and will not be built by any country.

You will somehow decide, because

you won't turn back

You cannot know the prospects for the development of Russia, because:
1. The planning system is destroyed.
2. All decrees and breakthroughs with the transition to a new term are "forgotten".
3. All terms (as a rule) are shifted to the right ...
In a word, I will not dissuade you unfoundedly about the pace and prospects. Look at this and tell me if there is something like this (walking in the video "Made by us"):

Honestly, I sadly envied how IN CHINA, THE CHINESE LOVE THEIR COUNTRY, and the whole world just opens its mouths at the rate at which it develops. We can only pray (the blessing of the temples is set up enough) that the new superpower is not upset by any bans on timber export or high gas prices.

[Ross xnumx]

I advise you to be curious:

[A009]

Can you still read what I wrote and not write about gases? I will quote: "... will not be designed and built." And yet, not having any relation to specialists in this field, and arguing from the general available information, I could be mistaken, which I wrote about, "... in all likelihood ..." And in response you almost threw stones and sticks and a personal enemy (judging by the expressions) they perceived. Are you sure you can adequately conduct a dialogue? They also attracted politics for one place, although I was talking about a global trend. Is it Putin, too, or who else is there, is it to blame?

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: A009

You can still read what I wrote

We read together:

Quote: A009

I will tell you more, in all likelihood more, in civil aviation, four-engine aircraft are designed and will not be built by any country.

They also write to you there:

Quote: Disant

https://topwar.ru/185453-voenno-transportnyj-il-76md-90a-mogut-sertificirovat-dlja-grazhdanskogo-rynka.html
"The new Russian military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A can be certified for the civilian market, this prospect is being considered." - This was announced by the first deputy head of the UAC Sergey Yarkovoy.

Thus, in the country of Russia there are such aircraft WILL BE BUILD.
What are you unhappy with?

[A009]

I really hope this is a joke. Read half of the phrase and answer these half of the phrase. So you can do the opposite from any information. Reading only those words that fit. Now read it all again. Slowly. You can turn on the brain. I will again quote the entire quote in the sense: "... they will not be designed and built" The second time you can understand. And again I will repeat what I already wrote: "And yet, having no relation to specialists in this field, and arguing from the general available information, I could be mistaken, which I wrote about," ... in all likelihood ... "

[Real Pilot]

Quote: knn54

At the end of last year, unknown persons opened the hatches of the "Doomsday plane" - one of the most secret military aircraft, which was being repaired in Taganrog. Electronic equipment was stolen from the Il-80.
We cannot exclude the possibility of determining how technically the transfer of instructions on the leadership of the country and the armed forces in case of war is carried out.
Was it not this event that accelerated the promising replacement?

I also thought about it, I agree with you!
And he also wrote in previous discussions that this is a kick at least to modernization. But then a new version is being rolled out on a more modern and promising platform ...

It is also a new hope for the IL-96-400M platform. The more of them in special series (board # 1, VKP), the higher the likelihood of occurrence for the civilian market!

[ramzay21]

The first Il-96M, which differed from the Il-96-400M only in American engines and instruments, took off back in 1995. There are no prospects for delivering it for passenger transportation, Aeroflot has already bought 25 A-350 and 25 Boeing 777s instead. It has already been said that the Il-96 will be made only for Putin.

[t-12]

Scribble is about nothing. Information - zero.

Here is an American "doom day" plane 30 years ago, you can roughly see what is inside the plane and what is needed for it.

[ramzay21]

IL-96-400M will be made exclusively for Putin in different variations. They will definitely do it, since this is the most necessary plane, the rest of the planes are not much needed.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: ramzay21

IL-96-400M will be made exclusively for Putin in different variations.

I was just surprised how bots pounced on your message. Generally speaking, the All-Union Communist Party is needed for (the main military command) to assess the situation and prospects. It can be used in exercises. I have never heard that this type of product was used in some more or less "warm" point with the risk of being destroyed by air defense systems.
And, I will never imagine in such an airplane neither the HMS, nor the EBN, nor the LADIES, - "they didn’t come out." And, nevertheless, I was convinced more than once that:

Generals always prepare for last war

It was during the times of joint exercises of the Air Force countries that such aircraft could be used as the same KNP:

Maybe the apologists of the CPSU have sufficient arguments and are ready to present the facts of the use of such CPSU in modern military conflicts?

[Vadim Ananyin]

Their use and participation in the operations of a wagon and a small or large bogie, E-4c, E-4a, E-3a, b, c E-2, according to the history of use in conflicts, you need to look - google pozh-ta.

[AC130 Gunship]

One and the same, and in a circle. The author would not hurt to take some basic course on how to write articles or essays. Imagine how many volumes would have turned out in War and Peace if Tolstoy described all the thoughts and experiences of Andrei Bolkonsky 3 times in a row ...

[Pankrat25]

This is not a whim and not a waste of money, as here some commentators are trying to present it all. This is the financing of scientific and technological progress, thanks to which the industry has new developments, new equipment, and specialists are trained. Do you think PS-90A1 engines appeared on their own for the civilian model? This is an ROC paid by the state for such projects. Thanks to this, civil aviation will receive a new version of a good engine. And that's just what we know.

[Glagol1]

Not earlier than the middle of the decade ... Not funny, the A-100 has been in operation for 10 years and is not expected before 2024. By 2030, it will be quite, but not a fact. VASO is not in the best condition, but it will build the board, but everything else ...