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The Ilyushin Il-26 was a late 1940s project for a strategic heavy bomber by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. There were a variety of alternative engines proposed for the Il-26, including the 3,400 kW (4,500 hp) Shvetsov ASh-2TK piston engine and 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) Yakovlev M-501 diesel engine. The specifications varied according to the number and type of engines proposed.

Clandestine use in the Soviet Afghan war

During the Soviet–Afghan War, Soviet & Afghan warplanes would occasionally cross into Pakistani territory while pursuing Afghan Mujahideen forces. Though in early March 1980, PAF Shenyang F-6s of the No. 15 Squadron on Air Defence Alert reported to have intercepted an Il-26 bomber that had intruded into Pakistani airspace however they weren't given clearance to shoot it down and instead escorted it across the Durand Line back into Afghanistan.

Specifications (Il-26 estimated)

Data from Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010.

General characteristics

• Crew: 12
• Length: 39 m (127 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 61 m (200 ft 2 in)
• Height: 13.7 m (44 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 475 m (5,110 sq ft)
• Max takeoff weight: 190,000 kg (418,878 lb)
• Powerplant: 6 × Klimov VK-2 turboprop engines, 3,700 kW (5,000 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 545 km/h (339 mph, 294 kn) at sea level
  

560 km/h (350 mph) at 9,300 m (30,500 ft)

• Range: 11,560 km (7,180 mi, 6,240 nmi) with 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) load
• Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 5 x paired 23 mm (0.906 in) cannon in twodorsal, 2 ventral and one tail remote controlled turrets
• Bombs: 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) of bombs (maximum)

References

1. ^ Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry; Komissarov, Sergey (2004). OKB Ilyushin. Hinkley: Midland. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-85780-187-3.
2. Buttler, Tony; Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet secret projects : bombers since 1945. Hinkley: Midland. pp. 14-15. ISBN 1-85780-194-6.
3. Air Commodore A HAMEED QADRI. "PAKISTAN'S AFGHAN WAR AIR STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS". Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 28 January 1999. While thousands of hours were spent by the pilots on ADA, 2142 hours were flown on the western border. Twice its pilots intercepted the enemy aircraft: first a Russian IL-26 on 1st March 1980, and second two Mig-21s in February 1986. The Squadron was not authorised to shoot, much to the frustration of its pilots.
4. Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergei (2013). Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010. Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. pp. 420–421. ISBN 978-1906537340.

Further reading

• Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.

• Ilyushin aircraft
• 1940s Soviet bomber aircraft
• Abandoned military aircraft projects of the Soviet Union
• Six-engined tractor aircraft
• Mid-wing aircraft