Aviapedia

Pentagon will use Russian planes?

By the leading US aircraft building company opinion An-72 aircraft will be represented to the FCA (Future Cargo Aircraft) Pentagon program. US Air Forces need new modern military transport aircraft to replace “Hercules” which is getting old. Boeing specialists already have visited Ukraine and now have very active negotiations.

According to Flight International data FCA tender will be opened in the nearest months - now GI’s are working out the requirements for the future aircraft. Boeing vice president and general manager of Air Force Systems George Muellner said the company would make final decision only after all the requirements will be finalized.

An-72 is not the only one aircraft to be reviewed by Boeing for the FCA program. It’s beeing dicsussed the possiblity to include Alenia, Italian company with it’s transport C-27J “Spartan” into Global Military Aircraft Systems group. Raytheon corporation together with EADS CASA North America are planning to participate in tender with CASA C-295 and/or CN-235 - again, depending on the final requirements. An-72 is the only turbojet aircraft from all the mentioned above. Very possible it will be more participants.

Of course, Russian aircraft will be modified to meet NATO and Pentagon standards - for example, it will be equiped with US engines. It’s a very big question if 30-years old aircraft can win this tender. Still this is the fact already - not so long time ago Russian trasnport aircraft were good enough to be reviewed by air forces of other countries.

Multirole trasnport aircraft An-72 with short take-off and landing roll was developed by Kiev division of Antonov design bureau in 1977 as a replacement for An-26 and is beeing produced till today. Aircraft is equiped by two turbo-jet engines and has knowable shape because of engine nacelles placed above the wing, not below, as usually. There were produced several modifciations of the aircraft - inculding patrol and north variants. It was developed long-range airborne warning and control system (AWACS) version of An-72 but it didn’t get into mass production.

An-72 is a high-wing aircraft with short short take-off and landing roll, with enhanced wing-flap system and high thrust/weight ratio. Engine nacelles placement above the wing helps to avoid foreign object damages, increases ascensional power on take-offs and landings due to more effective wings and flaps blasting. Besides, wing screens the engines noise.

Power-unit consists of two double-countered turbojet engines D-36 with thrust of 6500 kg-force each, or D-436 with thrust of 7500 kg-force each with reverse thrust option. In the tail there is a cargo door with removable lift frame. Cargo section is air- and leakproof.

An-72 “Coaler” specifications.
Length: 28,07 meters
Wingspan: 31,89 meters
Height: 8,65 meters
Empty weight: 19500 kg
Normal take-off weight: 27500 kg
Max take-off weight: 32000 kg
Maximum payload: 70 passengers or 5000 kg
Maximum speed: 720 kmph
Cruising speed: 550–600 kmph
Ceiling: 10000 meters
Maximum range: 4800 km
Operational range: 800 — 2000 km
Take-off roll with normal payload: 620 meters
Landing roll: 420 meters
Crew: 5
Similar aircraft: C-160 Transall, G.222