Three-Point Probe & Drogue Refueler Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 High-Bypass Power Rough-Field Strategic Mobility

Ilyushin Il-78 Midas Strategic Aerial Refueling Series

The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name 'Midas') is a dedicated four engine strategic aerial refueling tanker developed from the heavy duty Il-76MD transport. Equipped with three unified UPAZ refueling pods, the Il-78 can transfer fuel to three receiver aircraft simultaneously, extending the operational radius of frontline interceptors, tactical strike jets, and long range strategic bombers across remote theaters.

Il-78 Midas

Ilyushin Il-78 'Midas' — Three-Point Probe-and-Drogue Strategic Tanker

The baseline Il-78 entered service in 1984, incorporating two removable 18,230-liter cylindrical fuel tanks inside the cargo hold and three UPAZ-1A refueling pods (one under each outer wing and one on the port rear fuselage). In addition to refueling three fighters at once, the cargo hold retains the capability to be converted back for military freight transport.

Specs
ICAO code	IL76
Engine type	4x Soloviev D-30KP-2 Turbofans (26,455 lbf each)
Length	152.9 ft / 46.59 m
Wingspan	165.7 ft / 50.50 m
Height	48.4 ft / 14.76 m
MTOW	418,878 lbs / 190.0 tonnes
Range	3,940 nm / 7,300 km
Total Fuel Capacity	190,000 lbs / 85,720 kg (with fuselage tanks)
Transfer Rate	UPAZ-1A: 2,200 L/min (580 gpm) per pod
Cruise Speed	459 kts / 850 km/h (Mach 0.77)

Il-78M

Ilyushin Il-78M — Dedicated High-Capacity Military Tanker

The Il-78M is a specialized, non-convertible dedicated tanker variant. By removing the rear cargo ramp, paratroop equipment, and cargo handling gear, engineers saved 5 tonnes of empty weight and reinforced the wing structure to raise the maximum takeoff weight to 210 tonnes, allowing an offload capacity of up to 74 tonnes of fuel at a radius of 1,000 km.

Specs
ICAO code	IL76
Engine type	4x Soloviev D-30KP-2 Turbofans (26,455 lbf each)
Length	152.9 ft / 46.59 m
Wingspan	165.7 ft / 50.50 m
Height	48.4 ft / 14.76 m
MTOW	462,970 lbs / 210.0 tonnes
Range	3,640 nm / 6,750 km
Total Fuel Capacity	233,690 lbs / 106,000 kg
Transfer Rate	UPAZ-1M: 2,340 L/min (620 gpm) per pod
Cruise Speed	459 kts / 850 km/h (Mach 0.77)

Il-78M-90A

Il-78M-90A — Modernized Glass-Cockpit Tanker with PS-90A-76 Engines

The Il-78M-90A represents the complete modernization of the Midas platform, built on the redesigned Il-76MD-90A airframe at the Aviastar-SP plant in Ulyanovsk. Powered by four economical Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 high-bypass turbofans with a digital glass flight deck and modified wing spar, it delivers 33% longer range, higher fuel offload rates, and compliant ICAO noise and emission certification.

Specs
ICAO code	IL76
Engine type	4x Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 Turbofans (35,274 lbf each)
Length	152.9 ft / 46.59 m
Wingspan	165.7 ft / 50.50 m
Height	48.4 ft / 14.76 m
MTOW	462,970 lbs / 210.0 tonnes
Range	4,860 nm / 9,000 km
Total Fuel Capacity	277,780 lbs / 126,000 kg
Transfer Rate	UPAZ-1M: 3,000 L/min (790 gpm) per pod
Cruise Speed	470 kts / 870 km/h (Mach 0.80)

Ilyushin Il-78 Midas Timeline

1983

First Flight of the Il-78 Prototype

The prototype Il-78 takes flight, testing the unified UPAZ-1A suspended refueling units for multi-receiver simultaneous fuel transfer.

1987

Enhanced Il-78M Enters Production

The dedicated non-convertible Il-78M tanker rolls off the line in Tashkent, maximizing structural offload capacity to 74 tonnes of aviation fuel.

2003

Export Success with Il-78MKI / MKI

Ilyushin delivers specialized export variants fitted with Israeli avionics and Cobham pods to international operators including the Indian and Algerian Air Forces.

2018

Next-Gen Il-78M-90A Maiden Flight

The first newly built Il-78M-90A prototype with PS-90A-76 engines takes flight from Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport, opening the modern era of Russian aerial refueling.

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