AIRCRAFT OF PAKISTAN AIR FORCE

IL-78 MIDAS AIR REFUELLER

(2009-till date)

The Ilyushin IL-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four engine aerial refuelling tanker based on the Il-76.

The IL-76 tanker was conceived as long ago as 1968, but the transferable fuel load for the initial version was only 10 tonnes, which was insufficient, and development was shelved. When the higher performance IL-76 became available, the tanker project was re-started, as the IL-78, in 1982.

In addition to the increased fuel load of the late model IL-76, the
IL-78 is crewed by six personal. The aircraft has two, removable, 18,230 litres fuel tanks installed in the freight hold, giving a transferable load of 85,720 kg (188,584 lb) with hold tanks and 57,720 kg (126,984 lb) without hold tanks. Controlled from the Gunners cockpit, which is stripped of military equipment, three aircraft may refuel in flight, simultaneously, from the UPAZ-1A (IL-78) / UPAZ-1M (IL-78M) refuelling pods fitted to the outer wings and rear fuselage.

In addition four aircraft can also be refuelled on the ground using conventional refuelling hoses extending from the freight hold. Due to the high weights after take-off, which, in an emergency, would mean landing at weights well in excess of maximum allowable landing weight, the IL-78 has a fuel jettison system, with fuel jettison ports located at the wingtips.

Pakistan Air Force ordered 4 aircraft from Ukrainian surplus stocks for delivery starting late 2009. First aircraft was delivered on 19 December 2009, remaining 3 aircraft will be delivered shortly. These aircraft will be able to refuel all types of fighter jets in the inventory of Pakistan Air Force except all variants of F-16s.