| Il-102 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ilyushin Il-102 on display | |
| Role | Ground-attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
| First flight | 25 September 1982 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Ilyushin Il-40 |
The Ilyushin Il-102 was a Soviet experimental jet-powered ground-attack aircraft designed by Ilyushin. Once described as the "most gorgeously ugly combat jet ever,"[1] this aircraft was never chosen for production, being surpassed by the Su-25. Only a few development prototypes were built.
Design and development
In 1967, the Soviet Air Forces drew up a specification for a jet-powered shturmovik or armoured ground attack aircraft. While Sukhoi designed an all-new single seat aircraft, the Su-25, Ilyushin proposed a modified version of their Il-40 of 1953 under the designation Il-42, which, unlike the Sukhoi, was a two-seat aircraft with a remotely-controlled rear gun turret. The design was rejected by the Soviet Air Forces, but Ilyushin decided to continue in-house development regardless, renaming the programme Il-102.[2]
The Il-102 first prototype flew on 25 September 1982, with a second airframe built for static tests, and carried out 250 test flights until it was grounded in 1984 when the engine life expired.[3]
The Il-102 was a low-winged monoplane with moderately swept (30 degrees) wings, powered by two Klimov RD-33I turbofans (non-afterburning versions of the engines that power the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter). It was highly unusual for its time in having a rear gun turret, something not seen in ground-attack aircraft since the World War II Il-2 Shturmovik and Il-10, the Il-102's spiritual ancestors, controlled remotely by a gunner sitting in a cockpit above the trailing edge of the wing. The crew cockpits, engines and fuel tanks were armoured to protect against ground fire.[citation needed]
Although development was abandoned in 1984, the prototype Il-102 was publicly unveiled at the 1992 Mosaeroshow air show at Zhukovsky, being claimed to be available for export.[4]
As of 2005, the prototype No. 10201 was placed on display at the Gromov Flight Research Institute.[citation needed]
Specifications
Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 17.5 m (57 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 16.9 m (55 ft 5 in)
- Height: 5.08 m (16 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 63.5 m2 (684 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 13,000 kg (28,660 lb)
- Gross weight: 18,000 kg (39,683 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 22,000 kg (48,502 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Klimov RD-33I turbofan engines, 51 kN (11,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 950 km/h (590 mph, 510 kn)
- Combat range: 400–500 km (250–310 mi, 220–270 nmi)
- Ferry range: 3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi)
- Wing loading: 283 kg/m2 (58 lb/sq ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.58
Armament
- Guns:
The under-wing pylons of the Il-102, armed with unguided rocket pods - 1 × 30mm GSh-30-2 cannon externally mounted under fuselage
- 1 × 23 mm GSh-23L cannon in remotely controlled tail turret
- Bombs: 7,200 kg (15,873 lb) external stores in six wing bomb bays and eight external pylons (six under wing and two under fuselage)
The under-wing bomb-bays of the Il-102, armed with bombs
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler (11 July 2014). "Meet The Ilyushin IL-102, The Most Gorgeously Ugly Combat Jet Ever". Foxtrot Alpha. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, p. 25.
- ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, p. 27.
- ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, pp. 24–28.
- ^ Gunston 1995, pp. 126–127.
Bibliography
- "Ilyushin Il-102: Aborted jet shturmovik". World Air Power Journal, Volume 17 Summer 1994. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-874023-43-3. pp. 24–29.
- Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London:Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
External links
This page was last edited on 17 May 2023, at 08:22