The Ilyushin Il-38 'May' was a major development of the Il-18 transport optimized for the maritime patrol and ASW role much in the same vein as the US P-3 and the British Nimrod. While retaining the basic airframe of the Il-18, the Il-38 has a noticeable radome located immediately aft of the nose, a lengthened tail probe housing a Magnetic Anomaly Detector, and wings mounted slightly forward. Additionally, a weapons bay had replaced the baggage stowage area, this bay can accommodate anti-submarine weapons and sonobuoys. During the Cold War, Il-38's were known to undertake long flights over the Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans from bases in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Ethiopia. Il-38s have also been exported to India for patrol in the Indian Ocean. Today, the Il-38 remains Russia's primary maritime patrol aircraft and will likely remain in service given the lack of any planned replacement in the short term.

First seen by Western observers in 1971, the secretive Il-38 'May' has seen only Soviet and Indian service under the same basic designation. No further variants have since been developed.