72158 ILYUSHIN IL-40 'BRAWNY'

Ilyushin Il-40 was a Soviet prototype attack jet aircraft from the Cold War period. The machine was built in a low wing configuration, it had an all-metal structure. The propulsion was provided by two AM-5F or RD-9V turbojet engines. The prototype flight took place in 1953, but the machine never entered mass production. It was assumed that the on-board armament would consist of 37 mm or 23 mm cannons. It was also planned that the machine would be able to lift a bomb load of 1000-1500 kg. Ilyushin Il-40 was developed to replace the line of planes like Il-2 or Il-10, which still remembered the years of World War II and became more and more obsolete. It was assumed that the new machine should have a jet propulsion, be as insensitive as possible to fire from the ground, and that it would perform (in its basic versions) the tasks of supporting its own land units. Despite successful flight tests and showing good properties, the Il-40 did not enter production. The reason was the appearance of the MiG-17 aircraft, which could perform not only fighter, but also assault tasks.