Antonov An-72 / An-74 (Coaler)

History

Due to the sheer size of the Soviet Army during the Cold War (1947-1991), its various services required different modes of transport to move people, machinery and supplies. The Antonov An-72 (from the NATO codename "Coaler") became a product of this period and was intended for use in a logistics-oriented tactical transport role.

This rather unique aircraft features turbofan engines on shoulder-mounted wings that provide maximum jet wash clearance and promote excellent inherent lift characteristics. The An-72 was eventually adopted as the successor to the aging Antonov An-26 "Curl" series of transport aircraft (details elsewhere on this site), which later entered service with the Soviet Union and Allies around the world.

First flew in December 1977 (as prototypes, two of which would be built), and actual production models were not available until the mid-1980s, and even then these were heavily modified from the form they were originally presented. The An-72 was designed with short takeoff and landing (STOL) in mind, so robustness and reliability were key qualities, but despite the aircraft's size, innate capabilities turned into outstanding maneuverability.

The high-mounted engine was intentionally placed so that the engine exhaust could pass through the trailing edge wing assembly, effectively adding low-level power.

Further variants of the An-72 (Coaler-A) platform were derived, including the An-72P (patrol) for maritime surveillance, the An-71 Madcap AEW (airborne early warning) aircraft and the An-74 "Improved Coal", the latter has an improved engine and more conventional/traditional engine mounts. The An-72P was developed in partnership with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and features an improved "glass" cockpit, special Elta-branded radar and electronic warfare (EW) customization, as well as long-range day and night observation equipment and associated systems/subsystems . It also contains storage for missiles and bombs and is armed with a 23mm GSh-23L series automatic cannon.

An-72AT is a special transport vehicle designed to accommodate foreign containers. The An-72S becomes a VIP transport aircraft, configured for medical evacuation missions.

About 195 of the series were built under the guise of the An-72 and An-74, with production spanning from 1977 to the present. The An-74 was designed on a cold-weather support model (and produced in parallel with the An-72), had a crew of 5, added more fuel storage, and installed a larger radar.

It was launched in 1983.

Another notable branch, the An-71, emerged in 1985 from its maiden flight on July 12. Only three prototypes were built by the brand, and the program for this variant was eventually halted.

This version is intended for use in tactical early warning and control (Airborne Early Warning and Control = AEW&C) roles and features a dish antenna mounted on the rear of the fuselage.

The current (2017) military operators of the Coaler family include Equatorial Guinea, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. This type is also used in the civilian sector by various operators around the world. Some have ditched the collection in favor of a more modern design.

The An-72 is planned to be 92 feet long, with a wingspan of 104.7 feet and a height of 28.4 feet. Curb weight is 42,000 pounds and MTOW is 76,060 pounds. Power is provided by two Lotarev D-36 1A turbofan engines, each producing more than 14,330 pounds of thrust, reaching a top speed of 435 mph and cruising at about 375 mph.

The range is 2,690 miles.

The An-72/An-74 series eventually earned the moniker of the Soviet cartoon character "Cheburashka" due to its large on-wing engines resembling the character's large ears.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes