The maiden flight of the new Il-78M-90A aerial refueling tanker for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS/Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye Sily) took place on January 25. The VKS is expected to buy 34 of the new tankers to replace its current Il-78s. The Il-78 can carry 91 tonnes of fuel in its main tanks, plus another 36 tonnes in an auxiliary tank in the cargo hold to give 127 tonnes of transferable fuel. The Il-78M-90A (previously referred to as the Il-478) is based on the new Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) transport aircraft, which is itself a modernized version of the Soviet-era Il-76 ‘Candid’ airlifter.

The new tanker version shares the avionic, structural, and powerplant improvements of the upgraded transport aircraft. These enhancements include a digital ‘glass’ cockpit as well as modernized flight, navigation, and communication systems. Structural improvements comprise a modified wing with reinforced landing gear. The new aerial refueling boom is powered by four PS-90A-76 turbofans instead of D-30KP-2. The engines have also been uprated, giving the aircraft a 60-tonne payload (up from 40 tonnes for the baseline Il-76/78) and a 12% reduction in fuel consumption. The aerial refueling boom will allow simultaneous refueling of two front-line planes (Su-27, MiG-29) with wing-mounted fueling units. The tail unit allows refueling of long-range and special-purpose aircraft. When used on the ground, the Il-78M-90A will allow simultaneous refueling of four aircraft.

The new Il-78M-90A aerial refueling tanker will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces, enabling simultaneous refueling of two front-line planes and supporting long-range and special-purpose aircraft. The successful maiden flight marks an important milestone in the development of this advanced aerial refueling platform.