Overview

The Ilyushin Il-102 was a Soviet prototype close air support (CAS) aircraft developed in the late 1970s as a potential alternative to the Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot". Designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau—legendary for the Il-2 Shturmovik of World War II—the Il-102 featured heavy armor protection, twin turbofan engines, and a powerful 30mm cannon for anti-tank missions.

Only a single prototype was completed and flown from 1982 to 1984. Despite superior armor and payload capacity compared to the Su-25, the Il-102 lost the Soviet Air Force competition due to the Su-25's already-established production and operational deployment. The program was cancelled in 1984, making the Il-102 one of Soviet aviation's most capable aircraft to never enter service.

Historical context

Soviet close air support doctrine emphasized armored attack aircraft capable of surviving intense ground fire while delivering precision strikes against NATO armor. The Il-2 Shturmovik's legendary WWII success made Ilyushin the natural choice for post-war CAS development.

In 1969, the Soviet Air Force issued requirements for a new jet-powered attack aircraft to replace aging Su-7B and Su-17 fighter-bombers in the CAS role. Both Ilyushin and Sukhoi submitted designs:

  • Sukhoi T-8 (later Su-25): Simpler design, twin turbojets, moderate armor
  • Ilyushin Il-102: Heavier armor, twin turbofans, greater payload

Sukhoi's T-8 prototype flew first in 1975 and quickly entered testing with Soviet forces in Afghanistan (1980-1981). By the time Il-102 flew in 1982, Su-25 production was already underway at Tbilisi Aircraft Plant.

The Il-102 demonstrated superior survivability (thicker armor), payload (9,000 kg vs. Su-25's 4,400 kg), and weapons variety. However, Soviet Air Force leadership prioritized immediate Su-25 production over introducing a second CAS type. Funding constraints and bureaucratic inertia doomed the Il-102 despite its technical merits.

Ilyushin completed only one prototype (registration SSSR-88102) before program cancellation in 1984. The aircraft underwent static tests and limited flight trials but never fired weapons or deployed operationally.

Specifications

Commonly cited specifications (Il-102 prototype):

Dimensions:

  • Length: 17.80 m (58 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.50 m (54 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 40.0 m² (431 ft²)

Weights:

  • Empty weight: 11,300 kg (24,912 lb)
  • Normal takeoff weight: 18,000 kg (39,683 lb)
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 23,500 kg (51,809 lb)
  • Armor weight: 1,500+ kg (3,307 lb) titanium bathtub

Powerplant:

  • Engines: 2× ZMKB Progress (Ivchenko) AI-25TL turbofans
  • Thrust (per engine): 17.9 kN (4,023 lbf) each
  • Total thrust: 35.8 kN (8,046 lbf)
  • Fuel capacity: 5,600 kg (12,346 lb) internal

Performance:

  • Maximum speed:
    • At sea level: 800 km/h (497 mph / 432 knots)
    • At altitude: 950 km/h (590 mph / 513 knots)
  • Combat radius: 750 km (466 mi) with full weapons load
  • Ferry range: 2,500 km (1,553 mi) with drop tanks
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 50 m/s (9,843 ft/min)
  • Takeoff run: 750 m (2,461 ft)
  • Landing run: 600 m (1,969 ft)

Armament:

  • Gun: 1× GSh-6-30 30mm six-barrel rotary cannon, 1,500 rounds (ventral fuselage mounting)
  • Hardpoints: 16 total (8 underwing, 4 fuselage, 4 wingtip)
  • Payload capacity: 9,000 kg (19,841 lb) ordnance

Typical loadouts:

  • Anti-tank: 16× S-24 240mm rockets, 4× Kh-25ML laser-guided missiles
  • Anti-armor: 4× UPK-23-250 23mm gun pods (250 rounds each), FAB-250 bombs
  • Interdiction: Mix of FAB-500/FAB-250 bombs, S-8/S-13 rocket pods
  • Air superiority: 4× R-60 short-range AAM for self-defense

Armor protection:

  • Cockpit bathtub: 25mm titanium armor protecting pilot and vital systems
  • Canopy: Armored glass 60mm thick
  • Engine nacelles: 10mm steel armor
  • Fuel tanks: Self-sealing bladders with fire suppression
  • Total armor weight: 1,500+ kg (3,307 lb)—superior to Su-25's 1,000 kg

Crew:

  • Complement: 1 (pilot)

Design characteristics

Armor protection

The Il-102's defining feature was extensive armor protection:

Titanium bathtub: 25mm titanium alloy armor protecting:

  • Pilot from ground fire (up to 30mm cannon from below/sides)
  • Flight control systems
  • Hydraulic systems
  • Fuel system components

Canopy armor: 60mm armored glass windscreen (vs. Su-25's 57mm)

Engine protection: 10mm steel armor around engine nacelles, separated engines reduce dual-engine-out vulnerability

Redundant systems:

  • Dual hydraulic systems (independent)
  • Manual reversion for flight controls
  • Foam-filled fuel tanks with automatic fire suppression

Survivability advantages over Su-25:

  • Heavier armor (1,500 kg vs. 1,000 kg)
  • Better pilot protection from below (primary threat axis)
  • Thicker canopy glass

Twin turbofan engines

The AI-25TL turbofans offered:

Fuel efficiency: Turbofan design 30% more efficient than Su-25's R-95Sh turbojets

Lower thermal signature: Cooler exhaust reduces infrared homing missile vulnerability

Separated mounting: Engines mounted in widely-spaced nacelles—single engine damage doesn't compromise other

Drawbacks:

  • Lower total thrust (35.8 kN vs. Su-25's 91.2 kN)—limited max takeoff weight and climb rate
  • Less proven engine (AI-25TL derived from transport/trainer engines vs. military-specific R-95Sh)

Weapons systems

GSh-6-30 rotary cannon:

  • Six-barrel Gatling-type cannon
  • Rate of fire: 5,000-6,000 rounds/min
  • 1,500-round ammunition capacity (15 seconds continuous fire)
  • Ventral mounting for ground attack stability

16 hardpoints:

  • More weapons stations than Su-25 (11 hardpoints)
  • Greater payload capacity (9,000 kg vs. 4,400 kg)
  • Allowed mixed loadouts (anti-tank + anti-aircraft)

Targeting systems:

  • ASP-17BTs-8 gun sight
  • Laser rangefinder/designator for guided weapons
  • Klen-PS laser guidance pod (compatible with Kh-25ML/Kh-29L)

Limitations:

  • Prototype never integrated full avionics suite
  • No combat testing of weapons systems
  • Laser guidance systems less mature than planned

Variants

Il-102 prototype

Single prototype: SSSR-88102, completed 1982

First flight: September 25, 1982

Test program: 1982-1984, limited flight testing at Zhukovsky Flight Test Center

Weapons trials: Static tests only, never live-fired

Fate: Program cancelled 1984; prototype likely scrapped (some sources suggest preservation at Monino Air Force Museum, unconfirmed)

Proposed variants (never built)

Il-102M: Modernized variant with:

  • Upgraded AI-25TLM engines (higher thrust)
  • Improved avionics (digital flight controls)
  • Night/all-weather capability (FLIR, GPS navigation)
  • Status: Paper design only

Il-102-01: Navalized variant for carrier operations (rumored, no evidence of design work)

Il-102 trainer: Two-seat conversion trainer (no prototype built)

Comparative analysis

Il-102 vs. Su-25 "Frogfoot"

Armor protection:

  • Il-102: 1,500 kg titanium/steel armor, 60mm canopy
  • Su-25: 1,000 kg armor, 57mm canopy
  • Advantage: Il-102

Payload capacity:

  • Il-102: 9,000 kg on 16 hardpoints
  • Su-25: 4,400 kg on 11 hardpoints
  • Advantage: Il-102

Engines:

  • Il-102: 2× AI-25TL turbofans (35.8 kN total)
  • Su-25: 2× R-95Sh turbojets (91.2 kN total)
  • Advantage: Su-25 (thrust), Il-102 (fuel efficiency, IR signature)

Speed and agility:

  • Il-102: 800 km/h sea level, 950 km/h altitude
  • Su-25: 975 km/h altitude
  • Advantage: Su-25

Production status:

  • Il-102: Prototype only (1 built)
  • Su-25: Mass production (1,000+ built)
  • Advantage: Su-25 (already in service)

Combat experience:

  • Il-102: None
  • Su-25: Extensive (Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine)
  • Advantage: Su-25

Why Su-25 won the competition

1. Timeline advantage: Su-25 flew 7 years earlier (1975 vs. 1982), production already underway

2. Combat validation: Afghanistan deployment (1980-81) proved Su-25 concept operationally

3. Production infrastructure: Tbilisi plant tooled for Su-25, switching to Il-102 required retooling investment

4. Pilot feedback: Su-25 pilots praised agility, speed—Il-102's heavier armor came at maneuverability cost

5. Institutional inertia: Soviet Air Force resistant to changing established programs

6. Economic factors: Late Soviet economy couldn't support two parallel CAS aircraft production lines

Historical significance

The Il-102 represents one of aviation history's "what if" aircraft—technically superior in some aspects to the adopted design but defeated by timing and bureaucracy.

Design philosophy: Emphasized maximum survivability over speed/agility—reflected WWII Il-2 Shturmovik lessons (armor saves pilots)

Technological contributions:

  • Titanium armor fabrication techniques
  • Turbofan integration in CAS aircraft (later adopted by A-10C, Su-34)
  • High-capacity weapons integration

Influence on later designs:

  • Su-25TM/Su-39 upgrades incorporated some Il-102 concepts (improved armor, payload capacity)
  • Modern CAS aircraft (Su-34 fighter-bomber) use turbofans similar to Il-102's AI-25TL approach

Museum status: Uncertain—some sources claim prototype preserved at Monino Air Force Museum (Moscow region), others suggest scrapping after program cancellation

The Il-102's cancellation marked the end of Ilyushin's attack aircraft legacy that began with the iconic Il-2 Shturmovik. Ilyushin Design Bureau never again developed dedicated CAS aircraft, focusing on transport (Il-76) and airliners (Il-96) instead.

Related equipment

Related sections

Technical glossary

Close Air Support (CAS) : Aircraft missions providing direct fire support to ground forces engaging enemy targets in close proximity to friendly units

Titanium bathtub : Armored cockpit structure fabricated from titanium alloy protecting pilot and vital systems from ground fire

Turbofan engine : Jet engine with large fan producing bypass air for improved fuel efficiency and reduced thermal signature vs. turbojet

GSh-6-30 rotary cannon : Six-barrel 30mm Gatling-type cannon with 5,000-6,000 rounds/minute rate of fire for anti-armor/anti-personnel missions

Hardpoint : Aircraft mounting station for external stores (weapons, fuel tanks, pods); Il-102 featured 16 total hardpoints