The aircraft was built in one copy, remained at the stage of experimental development and did not enter mass production.
The rarest aircraft for the installation of obstacles, the Il-76PP, was removed from Russia. This was stated by the Ukrainian trade publication Defense Express and noted that in theory it should “jam” even the American Patriot systems.
The exact time when work began on the Il-76PP is unknown. But there is publicly available information about the “mid-1980s.” This aircraft was built in one copy. It remained in the experimental development stage and never went into mass production.
For the conversion to the Il-76PP, serial Il-76MD transport aircraft were used, and the work was carried out at the Beriev ASTC in Taganrog. It should be noted that the plant specializes in A-50 radar patrol aircraft. IL-76PP should first of all “jam” the radars of Western air defense systems of various types, in particular Patriot.
However, the most interesting and most specific thing about this aircraft is that it is equipped with an electronic warfare system named Lily of the Valley. However, it was he who could “bury” the Il-76PP.
Placing this electronic warfare on the Il-76PP required, in particular, the installation of additional power sources. To solve this problem, the aircraft designers installed two additional generators based on the AI-24VT aircraft engine. Each of them should power four AC devices on board the Il-76PP. But apparently this is not enough for reliable power supply of electronic warfare equipment.
Another problem is that during work and testing, the designers of the IL-76PP did not achieve electromagnetic compatibility between the on-board equipment of the aircraft and the Landysh complex, the containers which are on -install on the flaps.
That is, the IL-76PP turned out to be a monstrous and at the same time dysfunctional development, unable to fulfill its main task. Therefore, in 1993, the aircraft was placed in storage on the territory of the aforementioned training airfield in Irkutsk.
Let’s remember that since the beginning of the mass invasion, Russia has lost 354 aircraft and 326 helicopters.
As we already wrote, the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation received the next batch of Su-34 bombers and Su-57 fighters.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.