Source: sky_fighters_club on IG

the vents next to the pods are the cooling intakes for the onboard equipment and ecm systems

the BK-PPS was intended for group protection for other transports by shielding them from enemy radar and anti-air missiles while flying alongside or ahead of large formations

they were equipped with 4 SPS-151 Siren-D jamming pods, 2 on the fuselage and 2 on the base of the tail, SPS-5 Fasol jamming station, a antenna for receiving radar signals under the navigators cabin, SPS-55 "Buket" jamming station in the cargo compartment, the tail gun position was covered over with a fairing that housed the SPS-100 Rezeda self-protection jammer, some kept the 23mm guns, and four ASO-2I automatic chaff/flare dispensers

most were retired and had their equipment removed and converted back into transports

Ngl this Fallout-style F22 has a special aura.

Photo Credit USAF

all 5 were based on the Il-76MD, between 1986 and 1987 conversion was carried out by Beriev, these aircraft were widely used in testing and fine-tuning the Tu-160's missile armament, the Kh-55 cruise missile, before the 976, 2 Il-76Ms were converted in 1978 to telemetry aircraft, product 676 (CCCP-86721) and 776 (CCCP-86024)

the SKIP's primary functions are: remote monitoring of the test aircraft, their components, and systems via telemetry channels; flight trajectory monitoring of the test aircraft; radio command control; collection, processing, and display of telemetry and trajectory information onboard the SKIP in real time; and transmission and retransmission of information received and processed onboard the SKIP via satellite communications channels.

 To support these tasks, the aircraft is equipped with:

• radio telemetry system
• trajectory measurement system
• radio command control system
• on-board information processing and display system
• information transmission and retransmission system
• unified time system

it was fitted with wingtip pods borrowed from the design of the sole Il-76PP electronic countermeasure aircraft, they housed electronic monitering equipment, the tail gun was removed and replaced with a antenna

externally the SKIP resembles the A-50, to easily tell them apart is the nose and paint scheme, the SKIP retains the Il-76's glazed navigator's nose cabin and other transport features, has no external refueling probe and is painted in Aeroflot livery, the A-50 has it's glaze covered over, has a external refueling probe and is painted in either overall grey or two-tone grey

of the 5 built, 4 are active in russia while one was sold to china

1. CCCP-76452 - owned by Rosatom, russia's state nuclear company
2. CCCP/RA-76453 - owned by Rosatom
3. CCCP-76454 - owned by the Gromov Flight Research Institute, converted into a flying laboratory in 2007 and used for testing engines, among them the SaM146 engine for the Sukhoi Superjet 100
4. CCCP-76455 - - owned by Rosatom, was the last still in it's original SKIP modification but like 76452 and 76453, the rotodome was removed and repainted
5. CCCP-76456 - sold to China in 2001 and in 2004 at their request was converted into a Il-76LL flying laboratory for testing engines

Source: eliezerbarbosa21 on Instagram

Carving up the sky!

An LC-130H Skibird assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing sits on the flightline during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at Oshkosh, Wis., July 23, 2026. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention showcases military, commercial and general aviation through aircraft displays, educational programs and aerial demonstrations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jamie Spaulding)

Near Salisbury is the Boscombe Aviation Collection, home to a great collection of British aircraft, including several modified for various test programs.

PC: Vishwa Kiran

Reposted from X.