

When Operation Barbarossa began in July 1941, the freshly produced Ilyushin IL-2 entered battle against the Axis war machine, with large numbers lost to the Luftwaffe. As the placeholder 20 mm ShVAK autocannons were deemed unsatisfactory for both anti-air and anti-ground purposes, as well as the urgent need for fighters, priority was given to the development of the 23 mm Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 autocannon, the original intended armament of the IL-2.
After the cannon was ready, a single early IL-2 was reequipped with a pair of the VYa-23 and known as the IL-2I (Istrebitel; "fighter"). This version of the Sturmovik was intended to be used as a "heavy interceptor" against German bombers. However, due to the IL-2’s poor speed, it was deemed infeasible. Therefore, the VYa-23-armed IL-2s were repurposed back into the ground attack role instead.
The IL-2I, known in-game as the "IL-2 (1942)", has been in the game since the Aircraft CBT. Compared to the early IL-2, the IL-2I is now armed with the signature pair of 23 mm VYa-23 autocannons, giving it devastating firepower against air and ground targets alike. Just like other “Sturmoviks”, the IL-2I is characterised by its high survivability, slow speed, yet surprisingly good initial turn rate that allows it to catch enemies off guard.
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Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
FI-T/AP-I | 46 | 42 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 8 | |
FI/FI-T/AP-I | 46 | 42 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 8 | |
AP-I/AP-I/AP-I/FI-T | 46 | 42 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 8 |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
T/Ball/Ball/AP-I/AI | 13 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
AP-I/AI/API-T | 13 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
AP-I/API-T | 13 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
AP-I/AP-I/AP-I/AI | 13 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Name | Weight | Slot | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 × | 13.6 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 30 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 47 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 83.8 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 103.2 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
252.2 kg | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
49.8 kg | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
103.5 kg | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
6 × | 153 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 99.5 kg | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
2 × | 207 kg | ![]() | ![]() |
Flight performance | ||
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Weaponry | |
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