The ilyushin il 2 sturmovik was a soviet union attack aircraft in the wwii designed as a armoured low level close support aircraft capable of defeating enemy armour and other ground targets first flew on 12 october 1940 as prototype ts kb 57 the aircraft entered production in march 1941 and come into service in may a total of 36 163 were built the sturmovik played a crucial role on the eastern front famous nicknames as the black death il 2 single seat version the early production d