Symbiosis of the Soviet Legend An-12 and the N035 Irbis-E Radar from the Su-35S: Has a Solution to the AWACS Problem Been Found?

Military analyst Kramnik proposed building a new AWACS aircraft based on the An-12 with the Irbis-E radar

The problem of the shortage of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft can be solved with the help of the Soviet military transport aircraft An-12. This was stated by military expert Ilya Kramnik.

An-12
An-12

He proposed placing a high-energy multi-mode airborne radar complex (radar) N035 "Irbis-E", taken from the Su-35S fighter, in the radio-transparent under-fuselage nose section of the An-12.

The radar will be able to detect tactical aircraft at a distance of up to 300 km and Storm Shadow missiles at a distance of 80-100 km against the background of the earth's surface, as well as tanks and armored personnel carriers, launchers of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) HIMARS and anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) NASAMS at a distance of up to 80-100 km.

An-12
An-12

Such a machine will be able to loiter for about six hours, issuing target designation to the Tornado-S MLRS, Buk-M3 air defense system and S-300V4.

An-12 is the basis of the military transport aviation of the USSR in the 1960s-1970s. The most massive four-engine turboprop aircraft of the USSR (1246 units were produced), as well as one of the most reliable.

Characteristics of the An-12 aircraft:

  • Length - 33 m
  • Height - 10.5 m
  • Wing area - 121.7 m
  • Wingspan - 38 m
  • Flight speed - 656-686 km/h maximum, 570-580 km/h cruising
  • Flight range - 500 km
  • Engine power - 4 AI-20, 4000 hp each
An-12
An-12

Earlierwww1.ru reported that T-90M "Proryv" tanks have increased the durability of the turret armor thanks to a clever modification.

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