Il2M

The Il‑2M is a Soviet ground‑attack aircraft developed during the Second World War as an upgraded version of the Ilyushin Il‑2 “Sturmovik.” The designation “M” denoted a major redesign that incorporated the lessons learned from the earlier Il‑2P and Il‑2P2 combat variants. Development began in 1942 and the first prototype took flight in late 1943. The aircraft entered operational service with the Soviet Air Forces in early 1944, replacing earlier Il‑2 variants on many fronts.

Design changes for the Il‑2M were primarily focused on survivability and firepower. The dorsal “flying‑coffin” armor was reinforced and extended to cover the cockpit and crew compartment, resulting in a significant increase in weight but providing better protection against ground fire. The aircraft was fitted with a more powerful Shvetsov ASh‑82FN radial engine, which delivered 1,525 hp (1,137 kW) and allowed a maximum speed of approximately 380 km h⁻¹ (236 mph). Armament was upgraded to a combination of one 20 mm ShVAK cannon in the wing root, two 7.62 mm Berezin B-20 machine guns in the engine nacelle, and optional 45 mm and 100 mm mortar ammunition for bomb‑laden missions.

Operationally the Il‑2M proved effective in providing close air support during the late stages of the Eastern Front campaign. It performed well in air superiority roles due to its rugged construction and was credited with destroying a large number of tanks, artillery positions, and logistical convoys. Production of the Il‑2M ceased in 1945 after the war, but the aircraft remained a symbolic example of Soviet air‑craft resilience and the paradigm of heavily armored ground‑attack fighters.

In contemporary aviation studies the Il‑2M is often cited as a benchmark in designing survivable attack aircraft, influencing post‑war developments such as the United States Lancer series of anti‑armor helicopters and later Soviet methane‑fuelled ground‑attack platforms.