MOSCOW. Dec 31 (Interfax-AVN) - Indian has recently asked Russia to deliver additional upgraded IL-38 May aircraft to the Indian Naval aviation, Viktor Livanov, Ilyushin Company Director General, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"The Indian side asked for additional upgraded IL-38s following the loss of two similar aircraft on October 1, 2002," Livanov said.
He noted that until the previous year India had had five IL- 38 aircraft. Livanov made no comment on the number of IL-38 aircraft, Indian would like to procure. According to him, the Indian side expressed its wish to increase the IL-38 fleet in its naval aviation, rather than just recuperate the loss of two aircraft.
The director general said that the possible contract might envision an overhaul of several IL-38s, mothballed by the Russian naval aviation, at the Ilyushin pilot plant, as well as their modernization into the IL-38SD version, fitted with the Morskoy Zmey target acquisition system.
According to unofficial sources, at the present time the Russian naval aviation features a total of 14 IL-38s mothballed.
"The issue of delivering additional IL-38s to India is being settled at the governmental level, with the negotiations still under way," he emphasized.
In 1967-1972 Plant No. 30, based in Moscow, built 58 IL-38 aircraft. Five of them have been exported to India. The IL-38 is based on the IL-18D Coot passenger plane. The IL-38 is equipped with an ASW system, featuring the Berkut target acquisition radar. The aircraft is also fitted with the Put-4B-2K flight and navigation system and the AP-6E autopilot. The IL-38 can carry over 30 different versions of combat load, including 144 RGB-1 sonobuoys, ten GRG-2 sonobuoys, ten ASW depth bombs, and two AT-1 torpedoes. The search and rescue modification of the aircraft is fitted with 216 RGB-1 sonobuoys. The armament suit also comprises AT-2 torpedoes, PLAB-250-120 Lastochka, PLAB-50, and KAB-500PL Zagon depth bombs, the Orlan missile torpedo, and SK-1 Skalp nuclear depth bombs.
The IL-38 has a maximum takeoff weight of 66 tons, while the maximum combat payload totals 5.4 tons (up to 8 tons with an overload). The aircraft features a maximum flight speed of 685 km/h; a cruising speed of 350-400 km/h; a cruising range of 500- 2,000 m; a range of 6,500 km, and a ferry range of up to 7,100 km. Its combat radius totals 2,200 km, while the endurance is up to 16 hours.