Guns, bombs and interference. Combat capabilities of the Il-76 military transport aircraft
Il-76MD firing at a ground target, November 2021
The main function of the Il-76 military transport aircraft is to transport people and various cargoes. At the same time, it also has other capabilities directly related to military use. So, on board the aircraft there is a set of systems and weapons with which it can protect itself from attack or attack the intended ground target.
For defense and strikes
The future Il-76 was developed in the late sixties by order of the USSR Air Force. The troops needed a large-capacity aircraft capable of carrying a variety of cargo and providing 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 against radar, fighter aviation 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.
Tail fuselage with gun mount
To prevent or hinder detection by various means, the aircraft was equipped with devices for shooting chaff and false thermal targets. It was proposed to fight fighters or missiles with the help of a stern gun mount. Also provided for the possibility of using free-falling bombs.
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 finalized, various systems and instruments were replaced. Also improved means of protection. However, no fundamental changes were introduced.
In addition, in recent decades, there has been a course towards the abandonment of some protection systems. So, the last version of the Il-76MD-90A aircraft at the moment does not have a stern gun mount. In addition, the demonstrated samples of this type, leaving the factory, did not have devices for firing DO and LTC. The exact composition of radio-electronic equipment is also unclear.
four trunks
The most notable means of self-defense of the IL-76 is the 9-A-503 gun mount. It is located in the tail 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 guns GSh-23. Each such gun shows a rate of fire of 3-4 thousand rounds / min.
The aft installation 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, which simplifies the defeat of high-speed targets. The Krypton antenna is located inside its own fairing above the cockpit glazing.
Training bomb under the wing
The gun mount is intended for self-defense against fighters or missiles attacking from the rear hemisphere. The high performance of the two guns and the presence of advanced 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 shooter's field of view. However, in this case, the search for targets is more difficult and the time for attack is reduced.
Protection against detection
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 recent modernization projects, it was planned to supplement it with ultraviolet missile launch warning sensors.
Target hit
When irradiating an enemy radar or detecting a missile launch, the aircraft must use automatic jamming devices. 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 contained 384 rounds with false thermal targets or chaff. Later, the configuration and placement of the machines changed. So, later modifications receive a pair of such devices on the fuselage, and with the preservation of the previous ammunition load. Similar ASO-2I-E7r assault rifles were also introduced.
Part of the aircraft from different series and different years of production received electronic warfare equipment. They were equipped with active interference stations of the Lilac family or later systems of this kind. However, it is somewhat known that most of the built IL-76s could only put passive interference.
Transport Bomber
The transport Il-76 is capable of bombing ground targets. For this, four UBD-3DA universal beam holders are provided on the wing consoles. On each of them is suspended one free-falling bomb of caliber up to 500 kg. Due to the lack of necessary control instruments, the aircraft cannot use guided weapons.
bomb drop
The navigator, who works in the forward glazed cockpit, is responsible for the use of bombs. Bombs are dropped using the Kupol automated flight and navigation sighting system. There is also a manually operated NKBP-7 bombsight.
Weapons and practice
The protection systems of the 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 portable anti-aircraft missile systems. In this regard, the crews had to constantly use the APP-50R and LTC assault rifles for them. Such protection and competent actions of the crews gave the desired result - losses from MANPADS were minimal all the time.
In peacetime, Il-76 crews mainly solve the tasks of transporting people and goods, and also participate in various exercises. In addition, they regularly get the opportunity to test their skills in the use of regular weapons. During such events, navigators attack ground targets with training bombs, and gunners fire from stern guns.
The experience of such exercises shows that the IL-76 has a certain potential as a strike aircraft. Bombs of caliber up to 500 kg and 23-mm shells are capable of destroying manpower, equipment and enemy buildings. The accuracy of firing and bombing as a whole corresponds to the 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 an auxiliary means.
Development continues
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 means of protection of various kinds. 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.
However, working conditions and customer requirements change. As part of the latest modernization of the IL-76MD-90A, it was decided to abandon the stern gun mount. At the same time, other units were used and new opportunities 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. How other elements of protection and weapons will develop, time will tell.
Information