Despite the fact that the production of the An-12 aircraft ceased in the USSR 53 years ago, this machine is still actively used in military transport aviation and by other carriers.
The development of the four-engine aircraft at the Antonov Design Bureau began in the 1950s. The first prototype of the An-12 flew at the end of 1957, and in 1959 it began to be used in the Air Force of the USSR and in Polar aviation.
The "Iron Bird" became the first mass aircraft in military transport aviation, providing mass landing of both paratroopers and airborne combat equipment.
After the termination of production of the An-12 in 1972, the Soviet Union did not begin to create its successor. Today, about 70 such cargo aircraft are operated in Russia, and the youngest of them is already more than half a century old (at least 53 years). Despite regular maintenance at aircraft repair enterprises, their age raises serious questions.
The An-12 turned out to be successful and hardy. Its 4 AI-20 turboprop engines in the basic version produce a power of 4000 hp each (4250 hp in take-off mode). The aircraft crew consists of 6 people. The maximum take-off weight reaches 61 tons. The An-12 develops a maximum speed of 665 km/h.
Earlierwww1 reported thatAlgeria may receive a batch ofsix Su-34.
Read also materials:
- Frigate "Admiral Golovko" project 22350 launched the SAM "Poliment-Redut", destroying the cruise missile RM-24
- MLRS "Sarma" based on the KAMAZ-63501 chassis was presented in the exposition of the enterprise "Motovilikhinskiye Zavody" during the visit of Vladimir Putin
- "Derivation-Air Defense": a new anti-aircraft artillery complex was shown to Vladimir Putin in Perm
Now on home
Start of deliveries scheduled for 2027
Over 51,000 new motorcycles were sold in Russia in 2025
The car will take at least a year to assemble
The application's audience has reached 20 million users
The model will be included in the list of cars for taxis, price - from 2.25 million rubles
All parking lots of the "Administrator of the Moscow Parking Space" are connected to the service
The cars will be supplied to the Moscow Transport Service Directorate
Deliveries to India may begin in 2028
The technology provides automated search for all types of defects in power units
The plane flew 500 km, accelerating to 425 km/h
The plant stated that the information about the termination of purchases for models 6 and 8 is not true
Scientists are using the "Ekran-M" installation
Articles
-
Russian An-124 "Ruslan" Stuck in Canada for 4 Years and Accrues Millions in Fines
26 Jan 2026
-
Coaxial Propellers: How Counter-Rotation Increases Turboprop Engine Efficiency
25 Jan 2026
-
Kazan Aviation Plant Breaks Old System: Tu-214 to be Assembled Like Cars
25 Jan 2026
-
How Engineers and Technicians Are Paid Today in the Russian Aviation Industry: An Overview with Figures
24 Jan 2026