The Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy are joining forces to destroy "enemy" submarines, using the Soviet Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and the Shaanxi Y-8 multi-purpose transport aircraft. This was written by military expert Maya Carlin in an article for The National Interest.
While the US, Great Britain and Japan are conducting exercises in the Pacific Ocean, their opponents Russia and China are striking at the "enemy's" sea-based facilities during joint maneuvers.
Carlin believes that the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy understand the American submarine as the submarine of a conditional enemy.
In the face of growing tensions in the Pacific Ocean, Moscow and Beijing are strengthening their alliance to counter common adversaries, including the United States.
The expert recalled that the Il-38 became part of naval aviation in the fall of 1968.
The Soviet aircraft is somewhat similar to the American four-engine turboprop anti-submarine aircraft Lockheed P-3 Orion, which was adopted in the 1960s.
It is believed that about 50 Il-38 aircraft were produced, she summarized.
Il-38 characteristics:
- Length — 40.07 m
- Height — 10.12 m
- Empty weight — 34 700 kg
- Maximum take-off weight — 68 000 kg
- Powerplant: 4 × TVD AI-20M
- Maximum speed — 650 km/h at an altitude of 6000 m
- Combat radius — 2200 km
- Practical ceiling: 8000 m
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