Ilyushin Il-102

"Il-102" redirects here. For the road, see Illinois Route 102.

Il-102
Ilyushin Il-102 on display
General information
TypeGround-attack aircraft
ManufacturerIlyushin
StatusPrototype
Number built2
History
First flight25 September 1982
Developed fromIlyushin Il-40

The Ilyushin Il-102 is a Soviet experimental jet-powered ground-attack aircraft designed by Ilyushin. 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.[1]

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.[2]

The tail turret of the Il-102, armed with a GSh-23L twin-barreled cannon

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.[3]

Ilyushin Il-102 on display at the Gromov Flight Research Institute

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[4]

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

  1. ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, p. 25.
  2. ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, p. 27.
  3. ^ World Air Power Journal Summer 1994, pp. 24–28.
  4. ^ 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.
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