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Ilyushin Il-80, the 'doomsday plane', capable of flying for weeks. Check out all the details of Russia's most important vehicle.
Russia has one of the most enigmatic and powerful planes in the world: the Ilyushin Il-80, also known as the “Doomsday plane”. Designed to function as an air command center in emergency scenarios. nuclear war, this plane is equipped to protect state leaders and senior military officers, allowing them to continue to command operations even during extreme situations.
Characteristics of the Ilyushin Il-80 plane
The design of the doomsday plane, which made its first flight in 1985 and began delivery in 1987 after modifications, is based on Ilyushin's II-86 civil aircraft model, but with visible differences.
The Ilyushin Il-80 is known by the name Maxdome, although some also call it Camber, a term used in commercial aviation for II-86s.
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A distinctive feature of this plane is the absence of windows in the cabin, with the exception of the cockpit, which is equipped with armored windows to protect against explosions. These modifications are designed to protect occupants against an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) or nuclear explosion.
In the “Doomsday plane”, the doors on the upper deck were reduced in number, leaving only one staircase. A large SATCOM antenna is positioned on top of the fuselage at the front, with larger antennas at the rear.
The plane's tail houses a winch for a towed very low frequency (VLF) antenna, while the horizontal stabilizers are also adapted to accommodate more sensors or communications antennas.
Furthermore, the plane is equipped with two large electrical generators integrated into the engines, which have air intakes and exhaust jets at the ends. A retractable refueling probe is also installed below the cockpit.
Ilyushin Il-80 plane is the centerpiece of Russia's defense and command
Compared to its American counterpart, the Nightwatch, which was developed from the Boeing 747 aircraft a good decade before the doomsday plane made its first flight, the Russian plane is protected from EMP by shielding its equipment and wiring, as well as keeping analog instruments inside the cockpit.
The three-deck plane carries electrical panels, voltage-reducing transformers and SATCOM and VLF equipment. The Aircraft is equipped with a trailing wire antenna that can extend up to 5 miles (8 km) in length and can carry 13 communications links.
The Nightwatch needs two fully loaded KC-135 tanks to fully refuel, and although the aircraft has been airborne for a maximum of 35 hours, it can stay airborne for up to two weeks. These characteristics make the Ilyushin Il-80 plane a central piece in Russia's defense and command strategy, prepared to guarantee the continuity of the government in the event of a nuclear conflict.
Countries prepare for possible conflicts
The existence and capabilities of the “doomsday plane” are a grim reminder of the reality of nuclear war and the constant preparation of nations for a possible conflict of unimaginable proportions. As leaders and citizens around the world watch with concern, Russia continues to strengthen its defense and command capabilities to meet any future challenges.
It is also important to mention that the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) won a US$13 billion contract to develop the successor to the E-4B Nightwatch, popularly known as the “Airplane of the End of the World” or “Airplane of the Apocalypse”.
The company, which is based in Nevada and is an important partner of Embraer in the United States, is expected to deliver the first of four new “End of the World planes” in 2032, with the contract extending until 2036.
