Ilyushin Il-38 Facts for Kids

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Ilyshin Il-18

! First flight | 28 September 1961 |-

! Introduction | 17 January 1969 |-

! Developed from | Ilyushin Il-18 |-

The Ilyushin Il-38 (Russian: Илью́шин Ил-38; NATO reporting name: May) is a special aircraft. It was built in the Soviet Union by the company Ilyushin. This plane is used by navies to patrol the seas and find enemy submarines. It's known as a maritime patrol aircraft and an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft.

The Ilyushin Il-38: Guardian of the Seas
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The Ilyushin Il-38: Guardian of the Seas

The Ilyushin Il-38 "May" is a powerful aircraft designed for important missions over the ocean. Its main job is to search for and track submarines. It can also help with search and rescue operations. This plane was first flown on 28 September 1961. It officially entered service on 17 January 1969.

What is a Maritime Patrol Aircraft?

A maritime patrol aircraft is like a detective in the sky for the navy. These planes fly long missions over large areas of water. They look for submarines, ships, and other things that might be hidden. They use special equipment to find objects both on the surface and deep underwater. The Il-38 is one such aircraft.

From Passenger Plane to Patrol Aircraft

The Il-38 was developed from an older aircraft called the Ilyushin Il-18. The Il-18 was a popular passenger plane. It was known for being reliable and having four powerful turboprop engines. These engines use propellers, but they are powered by jet-like turbines.

The designers at Ilyushin took the strong body of the Il-18. They then changed it to carry military equipment. This included adding special sensors and weapons. They also moved the wings forward to make space for a large radar system. This radar helps the plane see far across the ocean.

How the Il-38 Finds Submarines

To find submarines, the Il-38 uses several tools. One important tool is its radar. This radar can scan the ocean surface for periscopes or other signs of a submarine. The plane also carries special floating devices called "sonobuoys." These buoys are dropped into the water. They listen for sounds made by submarines. The Il-38 then picks up these sounds and analyzes them.

Weapons and Missions

Once a submarine is found, the Il-38 can attack it. It carries weapons like torpedoes and depth charges. Torpedoes are like underwater missiles. Depth charges are bombs that explode underwater. Besides finding submarines, the Il-38 can also perform other missions. These include looking for ships, monitoring fishing areas, and helping with rescue missions at sea.

Who Uses the Il-38 Today?

About 65 Il-38 aircraft were built between 1967 and 1972. Many of these planes are still in service today. The main user of the Il-38 is the Russian Naval Aviation. This is Russia's navy air force. The Indian Naval Air Arm also uses the Il-38. India has modernized its Il-38s to a newer "SD" standard. This means they have updated electronics and better capabilities.

Images for kids

An IL-38 May passing low over USS Midway on 18 May 1979
An unmarked Ilyushin IL-38, which was later delivered to the Indian Navy in 1983 and was the navy's first Il-38 to be modernised to SD standard.
Ilyushin Il-38N in 2020
Il-38 of the Indian Navy at INS Hansa in Goa, with a Tupolev Tu-142 in the foreground