The IL-102 was an experimental Soviet heavy attack aircraft, which was a deep modernization of the IL-40. The idea of creating an armored attack aircraft was returned to the Ilyushin Design Bureau, which, as they say, ate the dog on the development of attack aircraft, in the late 1960s. At that time, the Soviet Air Force, based on the experience of combat operations in Vietnam and conflicts in the Middle East again interested in attack aircraft. It was then that the Ilyushin Design Bureau proposed a model of its Il-42 attack aircraft, which was a deep modernization of the Il-40 designed back in the 1950s.
In June 1969, the Soviet Union held a competition of attack aircraft designs. In addition to Ilyushin Design Bureau, Yakovlev Design Bureau participated in the competition with the Yak-25LSh, Sukhoi with the T8 and Mikoyan with the MiG-21LSh. At the same time during the competition it was decided to stop work on the Il-42 and Yak-25LSh. But the development of the Ilyushin heavy two-seat attack aircraft did not end there. Under the leadership of G. V. Novozhilov, the work was continued, but already on an initiative basis. The name IL-42 was transformed into IL-102. Compared to its initial prototype, the new attack aircraft received a modified shape of the nose part of the fuselage with improved forward and downward visibility, significantly stronger armament and new more powerful engines.
The construction of the prototype attack aircraft was very slow. At that time, the design bureau was busy with work on other projects that were considered to be of higher priority. In addition, without proper support from above, materials and components had to be obtained with special difficulty. Sometimes it was not without curiosities.

For example, ejection seats for the crew had to borrow from an aviation research institute. The construction of the attack aircraft was completed only by early 1982. On January 20, it was inspected by the chief of the USSR Air Force Air Chief Marshal P. S. Kutahov, who praised the aircraft and promised that he would promote the adoption of the aircraft into service. I. S. Silaev, who held the post of Minister of Aviation Industry, was also a supporter of the Ilya, but the USSR Minister of Defense had the last word.
The tests of the airplane went surprisingly well. In total, during 1982-1984, the attack aircraft performed more than 250 flights. And by the date of the last flight on December 29, 1987, their total number reached 367. During the flights there was not a single failure of on-board systems and not a single breakdown, and there were no accidents. The attack aircraft demonstrated quite high flight characteristics, surpassing the Su-25 produced in series.

It was noted that the aircraft had good stability on a combat course and unique maneuverability for its class. The minimum turning radius of this aircraft did not exceed 400 meters. Flights of the attack aircraft continued until the engines were completely exhausted. In 1984, the aircraft was put into preservation, and in 1986, they tried to revive the subject again, but these plans were not destined to come true. Most likely, the machine was ruined by economy considerations in the presence of the Su-25 in combat units. The saying "Bolivar cannot carry two" was realized in practice.
Flight and technical characteristics of the IL-102:

Overall dimensions: length - 17.75 m, height - 5.08 m, wingspan - 16.9 m, wing area - 63.5 m2.
Empty weight of the airplane is 13,000 kg.
Maximum takeoff weight - 22,000 kg.
Fuel mass in internal tanks - 3700 kg.
Power plant - 2 RD-33I DTRD, unboosted thrust - 2x5320 kgf.
Maximum flight speed - 950 km / h.
Practical range - 1000 km.
Range - 3000 km.
Practical ceiling - 10,000 meters.
Crew - 2 people (pilot, gunner-operator).
Armament: 2x30-mm automatic cannon 9A-4071K, 2x23-mm automatic cannon GSH-2-23 in the tail.
Maximum combat load - 7200 kg on 16 suspension units (including 6 compartments in the wing for bombs of 250 kg caliber). Bombs: free-fall and corrected, up to 500 kg. Air-to-air missiles: R-60M and R-73, air-to-surface missiles: X-23, X-25, X-29, X-58. All types of NARs, as well as cannon containers UAK-23-250, SPPU-1-23.