A310 MRTT vs Il-78 Midas

European multirole tanker transport, with significant deployments in aerial refueling and strategic airlift operations.
Picture of A310 MRTT
Origin country 🇪🇺 Europe
Category Military Special Mission Aircraft
Manufacturer Airbus
First flight 1 December 2003
Year of introduction 2004
Number produced 6 units
Average unit price $108 million
Soviet aerial refueling tanker, developed in the 1980s, widely involved in strategic, long-range force projection missions.
Picture of Il-78 Midas
Origin country 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Military Special Mission Aircraft
Manufacturer Ilyushin
First flight 26 June 1983
Year of introduction 1984
Number produced 53 units
Average unit price $-- million
Wing area 219.0 m² ◉
Wingspan 43.9 m â—‰
Height 15.8 m â—‰
Length 47.5 m â—‰
Maximum speed 978 km/h â—‰
Service ceiling -- m
Max. takeoff weight 163,998 kg â—‰
Empty weight 113,999 kg â—‰
Total thrust 2 x 27,306 kgf â—‰
Wing area 300.0 m² ◉
Wingspan 50.5 m â—‰
Height 14.8 m â—‰
Length 46.6 m â—‰
Maximum speed 850 km/h â—‰
Service ceiling 12,000 m
Max. takeoff weight 210,000 kg â—‰
Empty weight 72,000 kg â—‰
Total thrust 4 x 12,020 kgf â—‰

Performance Radar Chart

Photo of A310 MRTT by German Air Force. Photo of Il-78 Midas by Konstantin Tyurpeko.