Antonov An-12 Cub

Summary

Category	Transport aircraft
Origin country	🇺🇦 Ukraine
First flight	16 December 1957
Year of introduction	1959
Number produced	1248 units

Description

The Antonov An-12 Cub is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was originally developed in the late 1950s as a military version of the Antonov An-10 civil airliner. The An-12 was officially introduced into service with the Soviet Air Force in 1959. It was designed to meet the Soviet military's need for a tactical airlifter capable of carrying heavy cargo and troops over medium and long distances. Over the years, it has been used in various roles, including cargo transport, paratroop drops, and even electronic warfare.

The development of the Antonov An-12 was closely tied to the evolving requirements of the Soviet military for a versatile, medium-to-long-range transport aircraft. The An-12's design was adapted from the Antonov An-10, a civil airliner, but with significant modifications to suit military needs. Its four Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop engines provided the aircraft with the power to carry heavy loads and operate from short and unpaved runways, a key requirement for serving in varied and challenging conditions.

The aircraft features a high-wing configuration, which allows for better lift and cargo clearance, as well as facilitating easier loading and unloading operations. The An-12 is also equipped with a rear cargo ramp that can be opened in flight, enabling it to perform air-drops of supplies or paratroopers. In terms of avionics and other systems, the aircraft was designed to be robust and relatively simple to operate, in keeping with the Soviet military doctrine of having equipment that could be used effectively by personnel with basic training.

The cargo hold was designed to accommodate a wide range of payloads, from military vehicles to palletized cargo, and the aircraft is capable of carrying up to 20 tons of cargo or approximately 100 troops.

Operational history

The Antonov An-12 has had a long and diverse operational history that extends over six decades and spans multiple continents. After its introduction in 1959, it quickly became a workhorse for the Soviet Air Force, fulfilling a range of roles from cargo transport to paratroop deployment. During the Cold War, it was actively deployed in various capacities, not only within the Soviet Union but also in other Warsaw Pact countries. It was often used in large military exercises and was a vital logistical component for the Soviet military machine.

The An-12 saw combat use in a variety of conflicts. In the 1960s, it was deployed by the Soviet Union in the Sino-Indian War to airlift supplies. Later, it saw action in the Vietnam War, where Soviet-flown An-12s were used to ferry supplies to North Vietnam. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was used in the Angolan Civil War and the Ethiopian Civil War, generally in support roles for allied governments. The aircraft also played a part in the Soviet-Afghan War, transporting troops and supplies into Afghanistan and taking part in humanitarian missions.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the An-12 continued to be used by the Russian military, as well as by the air forces and civilian operators of several former Soviet states and other countries. It has also found its way into civil aviation, used by cargo airlines around the world, often in challenging conditions due to its rugged design and ability to operate from unpaved runways.

Variants

An-12A: This early version was similar to the initial An-12 model but came with uprated engines for better performance.
An-12B: A significant upgrade over the An-12A, the An-12B featured more powerful engines and structural improvements to carry increased payload weight.
An-12BP: This is essentially an An-12B equipped with an additional fuel tank in the cargo bay, extending its operational range. It's one of the most widely used variants.
An-12BK: An enhanced version with still more powerful engines, increased payload capacity, and an improved avionics suite. The fuselage was also slightly modified.
An-12PP: An electronic countermeasures (ECM) variant fitted with jamming equipment. It's often identified by various antennas and radomes.
An-12P: A civil version aimed at the freight market, devoid of military equipment but structurally similar to the An-12BP.
An-12PS: This variant was designed for search and rescue operations, typically equipped with inflatable rafts and other survival equipment.
An-12RR: A specialized radiation reconnaissance version designed for monitoring nuclear radiation levels.

Technical specifications

Version: An-12BP Cub-A
Maximum speed	770 km/h (478 mph)
Wing area	121.7 m² (1310.3 sqft)
Wingspan	38 m (124.7 ft)
Height	10.5 m (34.5 ft)
Length	33.1 m (108.6 ft)
Service ceiling	10200 m (33465 ft)
Empty weight	28000 kg (61729 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	61000 kg (134482 lbs)
Takeoff distance	900 m (2953 ft)
Powerplant	4 × turboprops Ivchenko-Progress AI-20M delivering 3126 kW