Ilyushin Il-80
Encyclopedia
The Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO reporting name
: Maxdome) is a Russia
n airborne command and control aircraft.
Heavily modified from an Ilyushin Il-86
, the Il-80 (also referred to as the Il-86VKP) is meant to be used as an airborne command center for Russian officials, including the President, in the event of nuclear war
. The role of the Ilyushin Il-80 is similar to that of the Boeing E-4
B. The Il-80 has no external windows (save those in the cockpit) to shield it from a nuclear blast and electromagnetic pulse
. Only the upper deck forward door on the left and the aft door on the right remain from the standard design. There is only one airstair
door, instead of three. An unusual baffle blocks the aft cockpit windows. This may serve to block EMP or RF pulses.
Unlike the standard Il-86 airliner, the Il-80 has two electrical generator pods mounted inboard of the engine nacelles. Each pod is approximately 9.5 metres (32 feet) long and 1.3 metres (4 feet) in diameter. Both pods include landing lights.
Like the E-4B, the aircraft has a dorsal SATCOM canoe, believed to house advanced satellite
communications equipment, and a trailing wire antenna mounted in the lower aft fuselage for very low frequency (VLF) radio transmission & reception [likely for commumication with SSBNs ].
Airbase near Moscow
.
As of 2011 three Il-80's remain in service. They are painted in the current Aeroflot
livery and carry international civilian registrations RA-86147, RA-86148, and RA-86149. The first Il-80, registration RA-86146, has been photographed without engines and is apparently out of service. As of 2011 the Il-80s remain based at Chkalovsky Airbase, located 30 km (18.6 mi) northeast of Moscow. The aircraft are rarely observed in operation, though at least one was seen at an airshow.
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
: Maxdome) is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n airborne command and control aircraft.
Development
The Ilyushin Il-80 has the NATO reporting name Maxdome (though some sources claim it uses the reporting name Camber, like the Il-86 passenger jet). The Russian reporting name for the aircraft is Aimak, or Eimak (Mongolian for "clan,"). The aircraft is believed to have first flown in the summer of 1985, with the first completed aircraft flying on March 5, 1987, and deliveries starting later that year. In all, four aircraft were known to have been converted from Il-86. They are registered SSSR-86146 through 86149, and were first observed by western photographers in 1992.Heavily modified from an Ilyushin Il-86
Ilyushin Il-86
The Ilyushin Il-86 is a medium-range wide-body jet airliner. It was the USSR's first wide-body and the world's second four-engined wide-body...
, the Il-80 (also referred to as the Il-86VKP) is meant to be used as an airborne command center for Russian officials, including the President, in the event of nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
. The role of the Ilyushin Il-80 is similar to that of the Boeing E-4
Boeing E-4
The Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post, with a project name of "Nightwatch", is an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force...
B. The Il-80 has no external windows (save those in the cockpit) to shield it from a nuclear blast and electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
. Only the upper deck forward door on the left and the aft door on the right remain from the standard design. There is only one airstair
Airstair
An airstair is a passenger staircase that is built in to an airliner — often, though not always, on the inside of a clamshell-style door. The stairs can be raised or lowered while the aircraft is on the ground, allowing passengers and ground personnel to board or depart the aircraft without the...
door, instead of three. An unusual baffle blocks the aft cockpit windows. This may serve to block EMP or RF pulses.
Unlike the standard Il-86 airliner, the Il-80 has two electrical generator pods mounted inboard of the engine nacelles. Each pod is approximately 9.5 metres (32 feet) long and 1.3 metres (4 feet) in diameter. Both pods include landing lights.
Like the E-4B, the aircraft has a dorsal SATCOM canoe, believed to house advanced satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
communications equipment, and a trailing wire antenna mounted in the lower aft fuselage for very low frequency (VLF) radio transmission & reception [likely for commumication with SSBNs ].
Operation
Upon completion, all four Il-80 were delivered to the 8th Special Purposes Aviation Division at the ChkalovskyChkalovsky
Chkalovsky , Chkalovskaya , or Chkalovskoye may refer to:*Chkalovsky District, name of several districts and city districts in Russia*Chkalovsky Airport, an airport near Moscow serving the Russian space program...
Airbase near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
As of 2011 three Il-80's remain in service. They are painted in the current Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
livery and carry international civilian registrations RA-86147, RA-86148, and RA-86149. The first Il-80, registration RA-86146, has been photographed without engines and is apparently out of service. As of 2011 the Il-80s remain based at Chkalovsky Airbase, located 30 km (18.6 mi) northeast of Moscow. The aircraft are rarely observed in operation, though at least one was seen at an airshow.
Operators
- Russian Air ForceRussian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
- 8th Special Purpose Aviation Division, Chkalovsky AirportChkalovsky AirportChkalovsky Airport , is a military airport base near Shchyolkovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located 31 km northeast of Moscow.Chkalovsky provides air support for Star City, Russia, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center, and other elements of the Soviet space program and Russian Federal Space...