Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (OAK) is offering its newest Ilyushin Il-78MK-90 multirole tanker transport (MRTT) to both domestic and foreign potential customers. The aircraft was demonstrated at the Army 2016 military technical forum held outside Moscow in September 2016. 

According to the official technical specifications and description, the Il-78MK-90 MRTT is intended for the refueling of combat aircraft (including the strategic and long-range ones) in the air and for the transportation and air-dropping of personnel and cargoes (in transport configuration). The plane is equipped with three UPAZ-1 refueling units with a capacity of 2,000 l/min each. It can be used for the transportation of fuel and ground refueling of the aircraft and other pieces of military hardware. 

Il-78MK-90 is a further development of the Ilyushin Il-78M (NATO reporting name: Midas) aerial tanker brought into service with the Soviet Air Force in 1978. The updated plane have retained the highest performances of its predecessor and received several new step changes. The PS-90A-76 jet engines integrated with Il-78MK-90 meet the requirements of the United Nations` International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the area of noise and exhaust emissions. They also allow drastic increasing of the flight range and reducing of the plane`s specific fuel consumption. The Il-78MK-90 MRTT can take off from both hard surface and dirt surface runways. The aircraft have received line replaceable modules that increase its flexibility. Therefore, the plane can be used to airdrop personnel and cargoes, to fight fires, to transport injured servicemen, and to administer medical aid. 

The actual Il-78MK-90 upgrade includes the integration of an advanced avionics and navigation suite that comprises digital automatic control system and the pieces of signals equipment that meet all requirements to modern avionics in the area of navigation accuracy and radiotraffic, including the ones issued by ICAO. The seat of the crew, the pilot-navigator, and the air-refueling operator are equipped with multifunctional displays (MFD) and integrated with a glass cockpit. The Il-78MK-90 MRTT features reinforced wing and chassis that drastically increase the performance of the aircraft and extend its service life. 

It should be noted that the UPAZ-1 units integrated with the newest tanker allow the air refueling of the most part of Russian-originated and Western-originated combat aircraft. The plane can be converted into a transport aircraft, owing to the modularity of its construction. The PS-90A-76 jet engines meet all requirements of ICAO in the area of noise and exhaust emissions. An Il-78MK-90 tanker is powered by four PS-90A-76 engines. 

According to the official technical specifications issued by UAC, the Il-78MK-90 aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 210 t, a maximum payload of 52 t, a flight range (with maximum payload) of 5,000 km, a cruise speed of 750-800 km/h, a flight speed during refueling of 400-600 km/h, a maximum flight altitude of 12,100 m, a maximum flight altitude during refueling of 9,000 m, a take-off run of 1,540 m, and a landing run of 960 m. The PS-90A-76 engine has a maximum take-off thrust of 16,000 kgf. 

It should be noted that Russia`s Aerospace Forces (Russian acronym: VKS, Vozdushno-Kosmicheskie Sily) are intensively using ageing Il-78 (Midas) and Il-78M non-modular aerial tankers. According to the Military Balance 2016 report issued by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the service operates 15 aerial tankers, including 5 Il-78 and 10 Il-78M planes. 

The Il-78 aerial tanker is based on the Ilyushin Il-76MD (Candid) heavy military transport aircraft. It is intended for the air refueling of tactical and long-range combat aircraft by day and night. Il-78 can be also used as a fuel transporter to refuel planes on the ground. Two fuel tanks are installed in the plane`s cargo bay. Il-78 has received three UPAZ refueling units. According to the official specifications, the Ilyushin Il-78 aerial tanker has a length of 46.6 m, a height of 14.76 m, a wingspan of 50.5 m, a fuselage diameter of 4.8 m, a maximum take-off weight of 190 t, a fuel tanks capacity of 145,500 l, a cruise speed of 750 km/h, a cruise speed during refueling of 440-600 km/h, a maximum flight altitude of 12,100 m, a take-off run of 1,700 m, a landing run of 930 m, a crew of six pilots, and a service life of 35 years/6,000 flights/8,000 flight hours. The aircraft is powered by four D-30KP Series 2 jet engines with a maximum thrust of 12,000 kgf each. 

The Il-78M aerial tanker (M stands for Upgraded, Modernizirovanny) is the further development of Il-78. It features a reinforced chassis and the third fuel tank installed in the unpressurized cargo bay. According to the open sources, the plane has a take-off weight of 210 t, a fuel weight of 126 t, a payload of 50 t, a length of 46.54 m, a wingspan of 50.5 m, a height of 14.76 m, a maximum speed of 830 km/h, a cruise speed of 750 km/h, a cruise speed during refueling of 430-590 km/h, an operational range of 4,000 km, a service ceiling of 11,230 m, a take-off run of 2,080 m, and a landing run of 1,000 m. 

The Ilyushin Company (now a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation) also designed the Il-78MKI aerial tanker intended for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The plane can refuel up to three aircraft in simultaneous mode by day and night in the air and four on the ground. According to the official specifications, the tanker has a length of 46.6 m, a height of 14.76 m, a wingspan 50.5 m, a fuselage diameter of 4.8 m, a maximum take-off weight of 210 t, a maximum payload of 48 t, a fuel capacity of 152,300 l, a cruise speed of 750 km/h, a cruise speed during refueling of 440-600 km/h, a maximum flight altitude of 12,100 m, a take-off run of 2,200 m, a landing run of 1,000 m, a crew of six pilots, and a service life of 30 years/10,000 flights/30,000 flight hours. According to the Military Balance 2016 report, IAF operates six Il-78MKI aerial tankers. 

Previously, IAF canceled the tender worth USD2 billion for six A330 MRTT aerial tankers designed by the Airbus Defence and Space company, according to a source in the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD). 

"India`s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has terminated the program to acquire six A330 MRTT aerial tankers from the Airbus Defence and Space Company. We are planning to re-launch the relevant tender. The Ministry will consider other options, for instance, KC-767 by Boeing or Il-78M-90A by Ilyushin together with A330 MRTT," the source said. 

He pointed out that the Indian MoD had selected A330 MRTT over Il-78M in 2012. "We suppose that the aforementioned aircraft could hardly be compared. A330 MRTT made its maiden flight in 2007, while Il-78M in 1988," the source added. Therefore, the MoD is interested in the acquisition of Il-78-family aerial tankers. 

However, the Russian option might be reviewed on a regular basis. "The MoD is re-launching the tender in order to supply the IAF with the state-of-the-art aerial tankers, not to acquire Russian aircraft," he said. 

The Il-78MKI planes ordered by India have been issued to the 78th squadron of IAF. According to open sources, only two aerial tankers are in flyaway condition. Four remaining aircraft are grounded due to the lack of spare parts. Therefore, the acquisition of the newest Il-78M-90A aerial tankers or Il-78MK-90 MRTTs seems to be the best option available to the service.