A Russian Air Force IL-78 tanker flying with two PLAAF Su-30MKK fighter-bomber during the Peace Mission 2005 China-Russia joint military exercise. The news that China will purchase 8 IL-78 tankers was announced shortly after the exercise.
一架俄国空军IL-78加油机在“和平任务2005”中国- 俄国联合军事演习期间和二架中国空间中国空军（PLAAF）Su-30 MKK战斗轰炸机共飞。中国将会购买8架IL-78加油机的新闻在演习之后不久被透露。

In September 2005 came news that China has ordered 8 IL-78 (NATO codename; Midas) aerial refuelling tankers along with 30 IL-76MD transport aircraft from Russia. This confirmed the earlier speculation that the PLAAF was considering to purchase the tanker to expand the range of its latest Su-30MKK fighter-bomber fleet. The IL-78 tanker was demonstrated to China during the joint military exercise between two countries in september 2005.
在2005年9月的新闻，中国已经从俄国订购了30架IL-76 MD型运输机和8架IL-78（北约代号：麦得斯）空中加油机。这证实早期的推测中国空军（PLAAF）考虑到去购买加油机去扩延它最新的Su-30 MKK战斗轰炸机的航程。IL-78加油机在2005年9月在中、俄两国之间的联合军事演习期间被示范到中国。

Russian Air Force demonstrating its IL-78 Midas tanker refuelling a Su-30MK fighter in Zhuhai International Airshow.
俄国空军在中国珠海航展上示范它的IL-78“麦得斯”空中加油机给一架Su-30 MK战斗机加油表演。

The PLAAF has been reportedly considering to acquire the IL-78 aerial refuelling tanker for many years. Although China has developed its indigenous refuelling tanker on the basis of the H-6 (Tu-16 Barger) medium bomber, its performance is much inferior to that of the Russian IL-78. Additionally, the aerial refuelling probe on the PLAAF’s Su-30MKK fighter-bombers is said to be not compatible with the  refuelling system of the H-6 tanker.
据传闻中国空军试图去获得IL-78空中加油机达许多年之久。虽然中国已经用H-6（Tu-16 Barger）中型轰炸机为基础发展它本国的加油机，但是它的性能远远次于俄国IL-78。加之，中国空军的Su-30 MKK战斗轰炸机上的加油探针据说与H-6加油机补给燃料系统不兼容。

The IL-78, created on the airframe of the IL-76 transport, is designed for in-flight refuelling of airplanes of various types. The tanker is fitted with a three-point probe and drogue refuelling system (one under each wing and they removable, and one mounted on the port side of the rear fuselage). The aircraft carries a maximum payload of 48,000kg, and is capable of delivering fuel at a rate of 900 to 2,200 litres/min. The aircraft is also fitted with navigation and positioning systems for night/bad weather operations.
在IL-76运输机的机身上制造的IL-78，被设计是空中加油类型的飞机。加油机装有三点探针和锥管补给燃料系统（在每个翼之下各有一个并且他们是可移动的，还有一个在机身左舷后部）。飞机携带48,000公斤的一个最大的负载量，而且能够以900到2,200升/分钟的速率送出燃料。飞机也为夜晚/恶劣天气操作配备有导航和定位系统。