Russia Coup

Prigozhin’s Wagner Downed a Valuable Ilyushin 22-M C3 Plane

Russia does not have many of these aircraft and one was downed by a Pantsir-1 missile system on the road to Moscow. What’s so special about them?

The Ilyushin Il-22M (NATO reporting name Coot-B) variant is an important Russian command and control aircraft that has played a crucial role in military operations around the world. Developed by the Soviet Union from the Il-18, this powerful airborne platform has proven its versatility and effectiveness in a wide range of missions.

Two versions of the IL-22 are in use by the Russian air force. I have highlighted them below with a red asterisk.

Russia was thought to have 18 of these aircraft. They have played a critical communications role in the Russia-Ukraine war, although they have been kept well back from the threat of Ukraine anti-aircraft weapons.

Shot down

Now Russia has one less Il-22M after Prigozhin’s Wagner force on the rebel road to Moscow shot one down on 24 June, killing all ten crew members. The weapon responsible is thought to have been a Pantsir-1 missile system, though how Wagner got control of as many as three systems is as yet unknown to the outside world.

Coot-B

The Il-22M, also known as the “Coot-B,” is a derivative of the Il-18 turboprop airliner. It was developed during the Cold War era to serve as an airborne command post, coordinating and controlling military operations from the sky. Designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau, its maiden flight took place in 1967, and it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1973.

The aircraft has four turboprop engines mounted on the wings. This design provides exceptional stability, endurance, and fuel efficiency. It features a spacious fuselage, allowing for the installation of advanced command and control systems. It also incorporates various communication equipment, including satellite links, secure radio systems, and data exchange capabilities.

It has a noticeable ventral bulge running from nose to tail. This holds active and passive sensors and is clearly visible in this image:

In the headline image a SW/HF wire aerial is visible running forward from the top of the rudder to the fuselage above the cockpit. There are numerous other VHF and UHF comms aerial visible as well as GPS (Glonass) transponders.

The other variant, the Il-22PP is a radar jamming plane with quite different fuselage additions.

It is clearly a communications hub and does not have a horizontal rotating radar scanner such as the Beriev A50U (‘Mainstay’) airborne early warning plane. One of theses was damaged by a drone attack in Belarus in February 2023.

Role

As a command and control aircraft, the Il-22M was designed to provide real-time situational awareness, coordination, and communication capabilities to military commanders.

The aircraft’s communication suite enables seamless information sharing between ground units, air assets, and other command centers. It serves as a vital link in complex military operations, aim to assist in effective decision-making and mission execution.

Nevertheless, during the initial Russian thrust towards Kyiv in February 2022 there were major issues with Russian C3 systems and it is not known whether a Coot was involved.

The Il-22M is capable of hosting a sizeable onboard staff, including commanders, operations officers, and intelligence personnel. It offers an airborne office space that facilitates the coordination and planning of military activities. The aircraft’s endurance and range enable it to stay aloft for extended periods, ensuring sustained command and control capabilities during long-duration missions.

Deployments

The aircraft has played a significant role in military operations across the globe. It has been deployed in various conflict zones, including the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and regional conflicts in the Middle East. Its ability to operate in austere environments and provide a mobile command post has proven invaluable in coordinating air operations, intelligence gathering, and supporting ground forces.

The loss of the Il-22M during Prigozhin’s ‘Justice March’ on Moscow is the second such loss in five years. Back in September 2018, one was shot down accidentally by Syrian air defenses as it returned from a patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea.

What surprises me is that such an apparently valuable asset does not appear to have ECM or even IFF squawkers. Or maybe it’s just that the Russian AA missile systems don’t?

The takedown

The Il-22M was shot down by one of Progigozhin’s Pantsir-1 systems on a bad day for the Russian Aerospace Force, said to have been the worst since World War II. On 24 June Russia lost, in addition to the Il-22M:

• 1 Mi-8 Transport Helicopter
• 3 Mi-8MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare Helicopters
• 1 Mi-35M Attack Helicopter
• 1 Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ Attack Helicopter

Video:

If you follow me I guarantee variety in your inbox with some unusual perspectives! I write on a wide range of topics that interest me including humour, tech, space, geopolitics and travel. I also write about…

…communications failures

My novels are available at my Gumroad bookstore. Also at Amazon and Apple