AN-72 military plane exploded near Moscow — what is known
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On December 12, an explosion occurred at the Ostafievo airfield in the Moscow region. The incident was caused by the detonation of the main power unit of an An-72 military transport aircraft owned by the Russian Navy.
This was reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
The intelligence noted that the estimated cost of the disabled Russian aircraft is about $4.5 million.
What is known about the An-72 aircraft
The AN-72 is a short takeoff and landing military transport aircraft developed in the 1970s at the Kyiv-based Antonov Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Its main purpose is to transport cargo, military equipment and personnel, as well as to provide operational support in hard-to-reach areas.
This aircraft has a unique wing design with engines mounted on the top of the fuselage, which creates a "blow-up" effect, improving takeoff and landing performance. The AN-72 is capable of operating on unprepared airfields, which makes it particularly valuable in military operations.
Technical characteristics of the AN-72:
- length: 28 meters;
- wingspan: 31.9 meters;
- maximum takeoff weight: 34.5 tons;
- maximum speed: 700 km/h;
- Flight range: up to 5100 km;
- crew: 5 people.
The airplane is powered by two D-36 turbojet engines developed in Ukraine. These engines have become one of the key features of the AN-72, as they provide high reliability and efficiency.
As a reminder, intelligence has revealed details about the explosion and fire at a military unit in Novosibirsk. In addition, the DIU has recently announced the number of dead mobilized Russians.
And the DIU sniper set a record and shot the occupier at a distance of 2069 meters.
