What is ilyushin il-78?

The Ilyushin Il-78 is a four-engine aerial refueling tanker aircraft, originally developed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin Aviation Complex. It was designed to refuel other military aircraft in mid-air, thereby extending their range and mission capabilities. The Il-78 is based on the commercial Il-76 transport aircraft and it first flew in 1983. It has a range of over 10,000 km and can carry up to 85 tonnes of fuel. It can also be used for cargo transport, with a capacity of up to 50 tonnes. The Il-78 has been used by the Russian Air Force as well as several other countries' air forces including India, China, Algeria, and Libya. It has also been involved in several humanitarian operations.