changes in 2022 to upgrade its air to air refueling pods, hose and drogue system, to a Western-manufactured system which is compatible with US Navy and NATO. Former operators National Air Force of Angola – one ordered from Ukraine in 2001. Refueling equipment was removed and the aircraft rebuilt into an Il-76TD before it was sent to Angola in 2003. Scrapped in 2014. Libyan Air Force – one Il-78E bought in 1989. This aircraft was destroyed in 2015 in an attack on Mitiga International Airport. Soviet Air Forces – aircraft were transferred to the Russian and Ukrainian Air Forces after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division – Uzyn Air Base, Kyiv Oblast, Ukrainian SSR 409th Aviation Regiment of tanker aircraft Ukrainian Air Force – inherited 21 Il-78s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since 1993, some of the aircraft were disposed of their refueling equipment and used as cargo aircraft, others were sold to Algeria, India, Pakistan and China for air refueling operations. 106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division – Uzyn Air Base, Kyiv Oblast 409th Aviation Regiment of tanker aircraft An Il-78 of the Ukrainian Air Force was bought and imported by North American Tactical Aviation Inc (NATA) in 2005, and flown to the United States in July 2006 with an intention to use the aircraft for contracted air refueling operations to United States military. The aircraft latter passed under ownership of the Air Support Systems LLC and got an American civilian registration N78GF. Afterwards, it was mothballed at the North Texas Regional Airport, Texas for 2.5 years. In 2009, it departed from the airport with a Ukrainian crew hired by NATA and was heading to the Wittman Regional Airport, Wisconsin to refuel before leaving the United States on the way to Pakistan for phase aircraft maintenance. However, it was diverted to the Sawyer International Airport, Michigan where it is grounded until now. In 2010, the aircraft was repossessed by the Bank of Utah Trustee and in 2019 sold to Meridican Inc, an international consulting firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The aircraft was to receive a cockpit upgrade for international operations in 2018. Specifications (Il-78M) See also References Notes Bibliography External links Il-78 at aviation.ru Museum of 203 regiment Role of IL-78 strategic tanker in Pakistan Air Force www.PAFwallpapers.com IL-78MKI Midas at indian military database Il-078 1980s Soviet military tanker aircraft Quadjets High-wing aircraft T-tail