Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik

The Ilyushin Il‑2 Shturmovik, designed by Soviet engineer Sergey Ilyushin and produced from 1939 to 1945, became the most celebrated ground‑attack aircraft of World War II. Introduced just before the German invasion, the Il‑2 entered service with the Red Air Force in 1941 and saw continuous improvement through a series of variants, most notably the heavily armored “Il‑2M” and the two‑seat “Il‑2M2” equipped with rear defensive gunner stations. Its distinctive feature was an armored “bathtub” surrounding the engine, fuel tanks and pilot, which could withstand up to 20 mm cannon fire and protect against small‑arm bursts during low‑altitude strafing runs. Powered by a V‑12 Mikulin AM‑38 radial engine delivering about 1 720 hp, the aircraft could carry up to 600 kg of ordnance, including rockets, bombs and a 23 mm cannon for anti‑tank missions. The Il‑2’s rugged construction, forgiving handling, and ability to operate from rough forward airfields made it a workhorse on the Eastern Front, where more than 36 000 were built and over 10 000 claimed aerial victories. Its impact reshaped tactical air support, establishing the ground‑attack fighter as an indispensable element of modern combined‑arms warfare.

Sergey Ilyushin

Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik

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Design & Classification