Anti-submarine aircraft IL-38: history and opportunities

The Navy's aviation has always played a key role in ensuring the safety of coastal zones and ocean expanses, and among the many examples of equipment created during the Soviet period, a special place is occupied by long-range anti-submarine aircraft. IL-38This machine, developed on the basis of a civilian passenger liner, became a real “hunter” for submarines of a potential enemy and has remained in service for more than half a century.

The aircraft was developed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau in the late 1950s, and the main requirement of the customer was the ability to patrol a given area for a long time and effectively detect diesel and nuclear submarines at various depths, the uniqueness of the project was the adaptation of the proven IL-18 platform to solve specific military tasks, which reduced the time of creation and reduced the risks during testing.

Today. IL-38 The latest versions are equipped with the latest electronic systems that allow not only to search for submarines, but also to monitor surface conditions, as well as detect small targets. In this review, we will examine in detail the design, weapons and evolution of this legendary aircraft.

History of creation and prerequisites for development

In the mid-twentieth century, the rapid development of NATO’s submarine fleet required an adequate response from the Soviet Union; existing detection capabilities could not always provide timely reconnaissance in remote areas of the ocean; it was decided to create a specialized aircraft capable of autonomously searching for and attacking underwater targets; and the basis for the new machine was chosen reliable turboprop aircraft Il-18, which proved to be a safe and economical liner.

The designers were faced with the task of radically changing the internal layout of the fuselage. The passenger compartment was replaced by a specialized compartment for the onboard search and sighting complex. "Berkut."This equipment included a radar station, a magnetometer and a data processing system, and an important aspect was the placement of a combat load, which was now located in the cargo compartments on the sides of the central beam of the fuselage.

⚠️ Attention: In the design of the IL-38, it was critical to ensure electromagnetic compatibility of the equipment, since powerful radar emitters could operate navigation systems and engines.

The prototype was first flown in 1961 and mass production was launched at the Moscow Aircraft Plant, which was massive and reliable, allowing it to quickly saturate the aviation units of the fleets, and the long service life confirms the correctness of the chosen concept and the high safety margin of the design.

Design features and aerodynamics

Outwardly. IL-38 It's not unlike its civilian counterpart, but when you look closely, you can see the specifications of a military vehicle, and the high-altitude wing allows you to place specialized equipment under the fuselage and provide good visibility down. AI-20M They provide high thrust and allow the aircraft to take off from relatively short runways.

One of the main features is the presence of a retractable magnetometer bar in the tail of the fuselage, which is necessary to record anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field caused by massive metal objects such as submarines, and to reduce interference, the tail tail is designed in a different pattern from the standard one, and some equipment is shielded.

• ✈️ The wing of the aircraft has a large elongation, which ensures high fuel efficiency and flight duration.
• ⚓ The chassis of the reinforced design allows you to operate the aircraft at airfields with ground surfaces.
• 📡 In the nose there is a radar fairing, which in flight can be shifted to improve aerodynamics.

The aircraft has seven crew members, including pilots, navigators and onboard system operators, with long-term airspaces and a sealed cabin providing comfort at high altitudes, and the fuselar design provides for additional equipment to be installed during upgrades without major airframe alterations.

Onboard equipment and search engines

The heart of the anti-submarine aircraft is its search and sighting system, and early modifications used the system. "Berkut."It was a system that allowed us to detect submarines at periscope depth and in surface position, and later it was replaced by a more advanced system. "Nerth."It has a high noise immunity and detection range.

The main search tool is a radar station that operates in different wavelengths, can see through clouds and fog, and can detect the wake of a submarine, and can be added to the picture of dropped radio-hydroacoustic buoys (RGBs), which transmit data about the noise of the propellers of a submarine on board the aircraft.

Modern versions, such as IL-38Nequipped with a complex "Novella."This system radically expands the machine's capabilities, allowing up to 32 targets to be tracked and classified at the same time. The Novella complex is capable of detecting surface boats at a distance of up to 320 km, which takes the aircraft beyond the narrowly specialized anti-submarine.

Weapons and options for combat use

Once the target is detected and classified, the aircraft proceeds to attack, with the load placed in four cargo bays, arranged in pairs in the front and rear of the fuselage, the main caliber being anti-submarine torpedoes and depth bombs of various modifications, and the use of anti-boat missiles.

The AT-1, AT-2, AT-3 and their more advanced modifications are used to defeat submarines. Deep bombs such as the SLAB-250-120 are designed to create a zone of destruction in the area where the submarine is located. All types of weapons can be used from high and low altitudes, depending on the tactical situation.

⚠️ Warning: Ammunition is discharged only after confirming the coordinates of the target and receiving the command, since an error can lead to the loss of expensive ammunition without result.

Besides, IL-38 The aircraft is capable of placing minefields in designated areas using special mine cartridges, making it a versatile means of influencing enemy maritime communications, and in peacetime, the aircraft can also carry rescue equipment to search for those in distress.

Modernization and extension of service life

By the beginning of the XXI century, the park IL-38 It's a lot of wear and tear, and the onboard equipment is obsolete, and to extend the life of the vehicle, it's been decided to upgrade the existing vehicles to the level of the old equipment. IL-38NWork is being carried out in aircraft repair plants and includes the replacement of radio-electronic equipment, engines and navigation systems.

The upgrades include new digital computing systems that process information faster and more accurately than analogue predecessors, modern displays in the cockpit, which reduce crew load and improve flight safety, and upgrades to power the system to save fuel and increase range.

The modernization program allows the Navy to acquire equipment that is as good as its best foreign counterparts, especially in a budget-constrained environment and the need to maintain its defenses, and the upgraded aircraft are expected to remain in service for several decades.

Comparison with foreign analogues

In the west, the main competitor IL-38 The two vehicles were built at the same time and have similar concepts: turboprop engines, long range and specialized anti-submarine equipment, but there are also significant differences in design and application.

The U. S. P-3 Orion has a lower wing location and is focused on long-term patrols off its coast or in the ocean, based on well-equipped airfields. IL-38With a higher passability of the landing gear and better adaptation to difficult weather conditions, it was often used in Arctic latitudes and remote airfields.

• 🇺🇸 P-3 Orion: focus on patrol duration (up to 12-14 hours) and variety of outboard weapons.
• 🇷🇺 IL-38: emphasis on reliability, ease of maintenance and the ability to work with ground runways.
• 📡 Both aircraft in modern versions received a radar with a phased antenna array.

With the introduction of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, based on the passenger Boeing 737, Western aviation switched to jet propulsion, which gave a gain in speed, but limited the time of barrage. IL-38 It remains turboprop, which is its advantage when performing search tasks that require an economical flight mode.

Operational Prospects and Fazit

Despite his age, IL-38 The aircraft remains an important element of Russia’s naval aviation, and its ability to operate in all climates, from the Arctic to the tropics, is highly valued by the command, and plans to further upgrade the fleet indicate that the aircraft will continue to perform its functions for a long time.

The development of unmanned technology and satellite monitoring is changing the face of anti-submarine defense, but it is not yet possible to completely replace a manned aircraft with operators on board. IL-38 They give him a place in the ranks.

In conclusion, the history of this aircraft is the history of the development of domestic aviation science and technology, from the first timid search for submarines to modern digital complexes. "Novella.", IL-38 It's been a long way. It's not over yet.

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