The ceremony dedicated to naming the aircraft was held by Ilyushin Company CEO Sergey Velmozhkin and Leninets Holding Company CEO Kirill Sidorenko.
The aircraft was named after Chief Designer of “Novella-P-38” search-and-track system installed on the aircraft – Fedor Zolotukhin.
The corresponding certificate was received by the son of Fedor Zolotukhin – Artem.
In the network of this upgrade the aircraft were fitted with the new “Novella-P-38” search-and-track system, which significantly expanded the vehicles combat capabilities and allowed the aircraft to carry out a wider range of missions.
The three-year contract between Russian Ministry of Defense and Ilyushin Company worth 3,45 billion rubles was signed on May 25th 2012.
Under the contract five upgraded production Il-38N aircraft must have been delivered to the customer. The vehicles were overhauled by Aircraft Repair Plant No. 20 (Pushkin, Leningrad Region).
Novella-P-38 systems developed by Leninets were installed on the aircraft by the specialists of Myasishchev design bureau at a base located in Zhukovsky (Moscow Region).
Kirill Sidorenko, Leninets Holding Company CEO
The member of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of Russia, Mikhail Kashtan, said that this milestone symbolizes strengthening of cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the industry.
«I hope that this aircraft will become a cornerstone of the naval aviation; it will be carrying out a variety of missions and protect our borders; this vehicle is a menacing warning for those, who is trying to disturb us and break the peace in these hard times,» Mikhail Kashtan said.
Mikhail Kashtan, member of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of Russia
It was reported in March 2014 that 28 Il-38 aircraft should be upgraded to Il-38N version for Russian Ministry of Defense until 2020.
“We have implemented the first state contract. The contract experienced difficulties, but the vehicles have been upgraded. This aircraft looks great and we hope that it will serve our homeland,” Ilyushin Company CEO Sergey Velmozhkin said.
The first upgraded Il-38 was handed over to Russian Ministry of Defense in summer 2014.
Valeri Vvedenski, UAC Deputy Director for Directorate of special aviation programs
In his own turn, UAC Deputy Director for Directorate of special aviation programsValeri Vvedenski said: “Today we implemented the contract for delivery of the first five upgraded production Il-38 aircraft. And this fact sets an even more important goal for us – to help Russian Ministry of Defense put the aircraft into operation and to assure its continued airworthiness”.
The Command of the naval aviation of the Russian navy said that Il-38N aircraft are great and promising, and expressed hope that the cooperation will continue.
Commander of the naval aviation, Major General Igor Kozhin
«Russian Ministry of Defense made a decision to upgrade the whole fleet of Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft operated by Russian navy,» Commander of the naval aviation, Major General Igor Kozhin said.
«The contract is being discussed. I can’t name the exact figures, but the whole fleet will be upgraded,” Igor Kozhin said.
In the network of this upgrade the aircraft are not only fitted with Novella-P-38 system, but also painted in dark grey color, which was accepted by the Ministry of Defense as a standard for the naval aviation.
«A lot of aircraft need to be upgraded, all the more so this vehicle is going to be operated in the Arctic Region,» Kozhin added.
Il-38 (NATO reporting name - MAY) is the anti-submarine aircraft developed by Ilyushin design bureau; it was derived from Il-18V passenger aircraft. The aircraft is intended for a solo or a group search (together with anti-submarine ships) for submarines and their destruction. It is able to carry out maritime reconnaissance, search-and-rescue operations and mining.
The crew of Il-38 comprises seven members: two pilots (commander and co-pilot), pilot-navigator, radar operator, display receiver operator, flight engineer and aircraft radio operator.
Meanwhile the development of a single platform for the naval aviation of Russian navy, which should replace Il-20 and Il-38 aircraft, is underway. Kozhin said: “The platform will be chosen this year or later”.
“It is a state-of-the art vehicle, which will outmatch its foreign analogues. We are choosing the platform and assessing production capabilities,” the General said and added that the new platform will replace all the patrol aircraft operated by the naval aviation.
As for the first batch of upgraded aircraft, they were handed over to the navy in July 2014. Kozhin explained, which units are operating these vehicles. “At present the trial operation is in progress. Generally, these are large fleets, including the Northern Fleet,” the General said.
Ilyushin Company CEO Sergey Velmozhkin and Ilyushin Company First Deputy CEO Yuri Yudin
Vladimir Irinarkhov, test-pilot of Ilyushin Company
Il-38N departing from Zhukovsky to the Pacific Fleet base