Ilyushin Il-80
| Company type | Airborne command and control aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Voronezh , Russia |
| Products | Military aircraft |
The Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO reporting name: Maxdome) is a Russian airborne command and control platform adapted from the civilian Ilyushin Il-86 airliner.[1]
Development
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Known by NATO as Maxdome[2], although some references suggest the reporting name Camber—the same as the Il-86 passenger version.[2] Within Russia, it carries the designation Aimak or Eimak, a Mongolian term meaning "clan".[2] The aircraft's maiden flight reportedly occurred during summer 1985 at Pridacha Airport, located in Voronezh[3], with its first post-conversion flight taking place on March 5, 1987. Production deliveries began later that year.[2][4] A total of four units were converted from existing Il-86 airframes.[2] These aircraft were registered as CCCP-86146 through CCCP-86149 and were first documented by Western observers in 1992.[4]
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Derived extensively from retired Aeroflot Il-86 airliners, the Il-80 (sometimes called the Il-86VKP) serves as an airborne command center designed for use by Russian leadership, including the President of Russia, particularly during scenarios involving nuclear conflict.[2] Its function parallels that of the American Boeing E-4B command aircraft.[5] To protect against nuclear detonations and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects, the Il-80 features a fuselage stripped of all external windows except those in the cockpit.[4] Only two doors remain accessible on the upper deck: one forward door on the left side and one aft door on the right side.[2] Unlike the original design which has three airstair doors, this model retains just a single one. The rear cockpit windows are shielded by a distinctive baffle that likely serves to block EMP or radio frequency interference.[2]
In contrast to the standard Il-86 configuration, this variant incorporates two electrical generator pods installed inside the engine nacelle area.[2] Each generator pod measures about 9.5 meters (32 feet) in length and approximately 1.3 meters (4 feet) in diameter.[2] These pods are also equipped with landing lights.[2]
Similar to the Boeing E-4B, the Il-80 includes a dorsal SATCOM canoe housing sophisticated satellite communication hardware,[2][4] as well as a trailing wire antenna situated on the lower aft fuselage used for very low frequency (VLF) radio transmissions and reception. This capability is presumably intended to maintain communication with ballistic missile submarines.[2][4]
Replacement
Once the current modernization cycle concludes, it is anticipated that a new airborne command center, constructed on the Ilyushin Il-96-400M commercial airframe and referred to as the Russian Doomsday plane, will take over its role.
Operation
Following their completion, all four Il-80 aircraft were assigned to the 8th Special Purposes Aviation Division stationed at the Chkalovsky Airbase near Moscow.
By 2011, three Il-80s remained active in service. These planes bear the traditional livery of Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, and are registered under international civilian codes RA-86147, RA-86148, and RA-86149. The initial Il-80, with registration RA-86146, has been observed without engines and appears to have been retired. As of 2011, all Il-80s continue to operate from Chkalovsky Airbase, approximately 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Moscow. Although these aircraft are seldom seen during missions, at least one has been displayed publicly at an air show.
In December 2020, Russian news outlets reported the theft of radio communication devices from one of the Il-80 planes while it was undergoing servicing.
Operators
- Russian Aerospace Forces – 8th Special Purpose Aviation Division, based at Chkalovsky Airport
Similar aircraft
See also
References
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtaylor - ↑ Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd edition, 1999. ISBN 0-00-472212-4, p. 154.
External links
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- Ilyushin aircraft
- 1980s Soviet command and control aircraft
- Quadjets
- Aircraft first flown in 1987
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