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Overview
The Antonov An-12 "Cub" is a cargo development of the
AN-10 commercial transport. The first prototype flew in March of
1957. The civilian version, the An-12B, first flew in 1961 and went
in production in 1962. Over 900 military and civilian versions had
been built before production finally ended in 1973.
The An-12BP entered Soviet military service in 1959. In terms of
configuration, size and capability, the aircraft is very similar
to the U.S. built Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Unlike the Hercules,
the An-12's cargo hold is not pressurized or air conditioned and
has no rear loading ramp. Instead, the undersurface of the upswept
rear fuselage is composed of a pair of longitudinally divided doors
which hinge up inside the fuselage. To accommodate direct loading
from trucks, the undersurface aft of these doors consists of a further
panel which is hinged at the rear to retracts upward. A built-in
freight handling gantry with a capacity of 5,070 pounds (2,300kg)
is used for repositioning cargo within the aircraft.
The An-12 has a high-mounted wing with drooping outer wing panels,
back-tapered leading edges, straight trailing edges, and blunt tips.
Four turboprop engines are mounted under the wings’ leading
edges. The round, slender body features a stepped cockpit and glassed-in
nose, with the landing gear housed within external blisters. The
tail flats are unequally tapered with blunt tips and mounted high
on the fuselage. The tail fin is tapered with a blunt tip and a
step in the leading edge. Two 23mm guns are mounted in a tail turret.
Like the Hercules, there have been several An-12 variants. Two
very notable platforms of the standard An-12BP transport are the
electronic intelligence (elint) "Cub-A/B" and the ECM
(electronic countermeasures) "Cub-C/D".
The "elint" variant differs by number and location of
antenna fairings and blade aerials, varying from "carrot-type"
fairings on the wing tips and tailfin to the large oval compartment
protruding from the (former) tail turret.
An-12s have been spotted over the Baltic Sea fitted (for an Anti-Submarine
role) with nose and tail sensor arrays. This variant, dubbed the
"Cub-C", features a number of additional air scoops and
heat exchanger outlets. All internal electronic equipment is palletized,
and may be used in number of configurations. The "Cub-D"
is a second ECM platform, with a different equipment fit and characterized
by huge external pods on the lower corners of the forward fuselage
and on each side of the base of the tailfin.
In addition to these operational variants, the An-12 has been used
as a testbed for advanced avionics housed in a large blister fairing
on each side of the fuselage, forward of the main landing gear fairings,
and in other containers located under the front and rear loading
doors and rear turret.
"Cubs" have served with numerous armed services throughout
the world (including Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Iraq, Poland, Sudan, Syria, and Yugoslavia) and commercial operators.
Chinese 'Cubs'
The Shaanxi Y-8 is a licensed version of An-12 built in China.
The task of designing and developing the aircraft was initially
given to the Xian Aircraft Company, which built and subsequently
flew the first prototype on 25 December 1974. Production was transferred
to the Shaanxi Aircraft Company in 1972, and their first aircraft
flew on 29 December 1975. From the start, the Chinese-built "Cub"
could be distinguished by its longer nose, which is similar to that
fitted to the Chinese-built "Badger".
The Y-8A is a dedicated helicopter-carrier, optimized for transporting
China's Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawks to more remote areas. Internal
cabin height was increased by deleting the internal gantry and travelling
cranes/hoists. A civilian passenger/freighter version is designated
Y-8B, while the Y-8C was developed in collaboration with Lockheed.
Intended for civil and military customers, the aircraft has a redesigned
cargo door, a longer hold (with no fuselage stretch), and various
new systems. Two prototypes were constructed, but development was
suspended. An AEW version has been reported to be under development.
The Y-8MP, the maritime patrol version, is the first long-range
maritime patrol aircraft deployed by the Peoples Liberation Army
Navy (PLAN). With a range of 5,600km, it is equipped with a Litton
APSO-504(V)3 surface search radar in an enlarged undernose radome
along with additional navigational systems. The Chinese Navy also
reportedly is acquiring Skymaster AEW radars. While Chinese officials
claim these radars will be used for search and rescue operations,
they could be used in AEW and surface surveillance roles.
Please note every information is given without any guarantee.
Official Designation An-12BP
NATO Code Name:Cub
U.S. Counterpart: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1954)
Primary Role: Tactical airlift
National Origin: Ukraine
Manufacturer: Antonov Design Bureau
Wingspan: 124 feet, 8 inches (38m)
Length: 108 feet, 7 inches (33.1m)
Height at Tail: 34 feet, 6 inches (10.5m)
Cargo Hold Length: 44 feet, 3 inches (13.5m);
Width: 11 feet, 6 inches (3.5m);
Height: 8 feet, 6 inches (2.6m)
Armament: Two 23mm NR-23 guns in manned tail turret
Engines: Four Ivchenko AI-20K turboprops
contents of the tank:18.100 Liter
Horsepower: 4,000 shp (2,983kW) each
Cruise Speed: 416 mph (670km/h)
Max Speed: 482 mph (777km/h)
Range: (w/ max payload) 1,492 nm (3,600km)
Range: (w/ max fuel) 3,075 nm (5,700km)
Service Ceiling: 33,500 feet (10,200m)
Operating Weight: 61,730 pounds (28,000kg)
Max Payload: 44,090 pounds (20,000kg) or 60 fully-equipped paratroopers
Max: Takeoff Weight 134,482 pounds (61,000kg)
Basic Crew: Six
Date Deployed: 1959
Total in Service Unknown
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