The Il-22 airborne command post is a Soviet Il-18 turboprop derivative used by Russian forces for command-and-control and radio-relay work. Public reporting during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War documents an Il-22 command aircraft hit near the Sea of Azov in January 2024, placing the small special-mission fleet in the war's high-value air-command target set.
Russian Il-22 command aircraft are documented in the full-scale war's air-command context; Ukraine reported hitting an Il-22 with an A-50 over the Sea of Azov on 14 January 2024, while Aviation Safety Network records an Il-22M-11RT damaged near Kerch that made an emergency landing at Anapa.
The Il-22 is a command-and-control aircraft rather than a strike platform. GlobalSecurity describes the type as an Il-18 turboprop-liner modification equipped for command and control communications, including relay work for aircraft and helicopters operating at very low altitude. AP's January 2024 reporting places the aircraft in the same high-value command-aircraft category as the A-50 during the Sea of Azov incident.
Communications and command-and-control systems installed in an Il-18-derived turboprop airframe.
GlobalSecurity describes a normal flight crew of about five plus two to four telecommunications operators.
The January 2024 Sea of Azov incident and the June 2023 Wagner-rebellion loss both show the aircraft treated as a high-value Russian command asset.
The Il-22 command-post line sits inside the broader Il-18/Il-20/Il-22/Il-38 special-mission family, with later aircraft distinguished mainly by mission equipment rather than a new transport airframe.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Il-22 | Baseline airborne command post | GlobalSecurity describes the Il-22 as an Il-18 modification fitted with command-and-control communications equipment. Sources: GlobalSecurity Il-22 Coot-B |
| Il-22M | Updated command-post variant | Open reporting identifies the Il-22M as the Russian airborne command-post model lost during the Wagner rebellion and damaged in the January 2024 Sea of Azov incident. Sources: Aviation Week Wagner Il-22M, Aviation Safety Network Il-22M-11RT RF-95678 |
| Il-22M-11RT | Radio-relay / command-post subvariant | The January 2024 Aviation Safety Network record identifies the damaged Russian aircraft as an Il-22M-11RT, tail RF-95678. |
The Il-18 turboprop airliner first flew in July 1957, creating the transport airframe later adapted for command, reconnaissance, and patrol variants.
Sources: GlobalSecurity Il-18 Background
GlobalSecurity places Il-18 airline entry into service in April 1959; later special-mission conversions used the same airframe family.
Sources: GlobalSecurity Il-18 Background
Aviation Week reported that Wagner forces shot down a Russian Il-22M airborne command post inside Russia during the June 2023 mutiny.
Sources: Aviation Week Wagner Il-22M
Ukraine reported striking an Il-22 command aircraft with an A-50 over the Sea of Azov region; Aviation Safety Network separately records an Il-22M-11RT damaged near Kerch and landing at Anapa.
Sources: AP Sea of Azov Command Aircraft, Aviation Safety Network Il-22M-11RT RF-95678
