Russian Navy to Upgrade All Operational Il-38 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Il-38N by 2025

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Naval Aviation News - Russia
 
 
 
Russian Navy to Upgrade All Operational Il-38 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Il-38N by 2025
 
Russia’s Navy is planning to upgrade all operational Ilyushin Il-38 (NATO reporting name: May) antisubmarine warfare planes before 2025, Russian Naval Aviation Chief Igor Kozhin said. "The upgrade program runs through 2025. Thus, we are planning to upgrade virtually all Il-38 planes before 2025," Kozhin said.
     
IL 38N MPA Russian NavyA Il-38N MPA of the Russian Navy. Picture by Paul Shumilo
     
Speaking about the Il-38N plane designated as Viktor Potapov, Kozhin said that the aircraft would be delivered to the training center in Yeysk in the Krasnodar Territory in south Russia, which "will use it both to train flight crews, carry out special tests and learn new tactics."

The Il-38N plane is equipped with the Novella target search and track system that can detect aerial targets at a distance of 90 kilometers (56 miles) and above-sea targets at a range of 320 kilometers (199 miles). The system can track 32 above- and underwater targets simultaneously.

The Il-38N plane can also conduct electronic intelligence. The Navy received the first Il-38N plane in late 2014. In all, about 30 Il-38N antisubmarine warfare planes are planned to be delivered to the Navy.

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Comments by Navy Recognition
The upgraded Il-38N plane is equipped with the Novella target search and track system that can detect aerial targets at a distance of up to 90 kilometers (56 miles) and surface targets at a range of up to 320 kilometers (199 miles). The system can track 32 above- and underwater targets simultaneously. It is fitted with new-generation sonobuoys and a thermal imager. The Il-38N plane can also conduct Signals intelligence (SIGINT) and ISR.

By December 2016, a first batch of seven Il-38N have been delivered to the Russian Navy. A total of 65 baseline Il-38 were produced between 1967 and 1972. According to open sources, there were 46 Il-38 aircraft still in service in Russia as of 2016.

The Indian Navy operates another modernized Il-38 variant called Il-38SD "Sea Dragon". The Sea Dragon is a multi-mission package that includes five subsystems. Anti-submarine warfare (radio hydroacoustics and MAD), search-and-rescue (EO system), sea and land surface surveillance (electronically scanned radar) as well as electronic support measures. The first two of five aircraft on order have been modernized so far.