Antonov An-22

Antonov Design Bureau

Company type	State-owned enterprise
Industry	Aerospace, defense
Founded	1946
Headquarters	Kyiv , Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Products	Aircraft design and manufacturing
Website	www.antonov.com

The Antonov An-22 "Antei" (Russian: Ан-22 Антей, romanized: An-22 Antey; named after the legendary Greek mythological giant; NATO reporting name: "Cock") is a heavy-duty military transport aircraft developed by the Antonov Design Bureau within the Soviet Union. Equipped with four turboprop engines, each driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers, it was the first wide-body transport aircraft globally and remains the largest turboprop-driven plane ever constructed. The An-22 made its international debut at the 1965 Paris Air Show. Following this, it was widely employed in significant military and humanitarian airlift operations by the Soviet Union and continues to serve in a limited capacity with the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Design and development

File:Aeroflot An-22 CCCP-64459 UKKM 1991-8-18.png

First An-22 prototype (CCCP-64459; currently UR-64459) shown in 1991 at Gostomel Airport.

File:An-22. Front view.jpg

View from the front.

File:An-22. Bottom view.jpg

View from below.

During the late 1950s, there was a Soviet demand for a large-scale military transport to complement the then-newly introduced Antonov An-8 and Antonov An-12 aircraft. Initially designated as the An-20, this aircraft featured a conventional high-wing, multi-engine configuration. In the early 1960s, Antonov's Kyiv workshops created a wooden mock-up referred to as Model 100. The prototype, later renamed An-22, was unveiled on 18 August 1964 and completed its maiden flight on 27 February 1965. Bearing the name Antaeus (occasionally misspelled Antheus), after four months of flight testing it was exhibited at the 1965 Paris Air Show. All production units were manufactured at the Tashkent State Aircraft Factory, with initial military deliveries made to the Air Transport Wing based at Ivanovo Airbase in 1969.

Designed as a strategic airlifter, the aircraft aimed to enhance the Soviet Airborne Forces' ability to deploy their then-new BMD-1 armored vehicles. Its cargo bay can hold up to four BMD-1s, a significant improvement over the single vehicle capacity of the An-12.

The An-22 is capable of operating from rough, unprepared, and short runways, enabling airborne troops to conduct air-landed missions effectively. This is facilitated by its four pairs of contra-rotating propellers, akin to those utilized on the Tupolev Tu-114. The propeller slipstream combined with engine exhaust flows over expansive double-slotted flaps, enhancing lift. Its landing gear is reinforced for uneven terrain. Early models featured an in-flight adjustable tire pressure system via a Central Tire Inflation System, optimizing landing performance; however, this functionality was removed in subsequent versions.

Following conventional cargo aircraft design principles, the An-22 has a high-mounted wing that allows a spacious cargo compartment measuring 33 m in length with an internal volume of 639 m³. The forward fuselage is fully pressurized and accommodates between five and eight crew members plus up to 28 passengers. However, the cargo area is pressurized only to 3.55 PSI (0.245 bar), reducing structural weight. A pressure bulkhead door at frame 14 separates the cargo attendant’s section from the main hold, permitting rear cargo doors to open during flight for paratrooper deployment or equipment drops. Similar to the An-12, its fuselage cross-section is circular. The An-22 has established several world records related to payload capacity and payload-to-altitude performance.Template:Fix/category

Visually, the An-22 resembles an enlarged version of the earlier Antonov An-12 but includes a distinctive twin-tail configuration. This design improves engine-out handling characteristics and lowers height restrictions for hangar storage. Notably, large anti-flutter weights are mounted atop each tail fin.

File:1965. Антей.jpg

A Soviet postage stamp from 1965 celebrating the An-22’s success at the Paris Air Show.

Only one production model was manufactured — the standard An-22.Template:Fix/category Early prototypes displayed at events like the 1965 Paris Air Show featured fully glazed noses without nose-mounted radar found on production variants; instead, radar units were installed beneath the right main landing gear fairing ahead of the wheels. Antonov also developed an electrical system upgrade with enhanced flight controls labeled as An-22A; however, this designation was not adopted by military operators.

A civil passenger variant featuring an extended fuselage capable of seating up to 724 passengers across two decks was explored but never progressed beyond study.

Total production

Total Production	1975	1974	1973	1972	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966	1965	1964	1963
68	12	9	9	8	8	7	7	1	1	4	1	0	1

Variants

File:An-22 is landing on unpaved runway.webm

The An-22 demonstrates capability to operate from unpaved airstrips, shown here landing at Gao International Airport in Mali, 2016

File:Antonov An-22 amphibious version profile line drawing.jpg

Conceptual illustration of the proposed amphibious variant of the An-22

File:Lifting.AN-22 RA-09341 (8704268263).jpg

Side view of the An-22

An-22

Three initial prototypes featuring a glass nose were constructed at the Antonov plant located in Kyiv.

Amphibious An-22

A proposed amphibious adaptation of the An-22 was developed but remained at the scale model stage without full-scale production.

An-22

The first production model included an external engine start system, with a total of 37 units manufactured at Tashkent.

An-22A

This enhanced version incorporated air-start capability, upgraded electrical systems, and modernized radio and navigation equipment; 28 aircraft were produced at Tashkent.

An-22PZ

Two An-22s were modified to externally carry wing center sections or outer wings from Antonov An-124 or An-225 aircraft above the fuselage and were equipped with an additional third vertical stabilizer.

Antonov also designed and partially built several other variants of the An-22, including concepts for a nuclear-powered version and a ballistic missile carrier, although these did not reach mass production.Template:Fix/category

Operational history

Initially developed for use by the Soviet Air Force and the state airline Aeroflot, the An-22 began replacing the An-12 in military service starting July 1974. Multiple units within Military Transport Aviation received this aircraft. Notably, the 12th Mginsk Red Banner Military Transport Aviation Division based at Migalovo had all three of its regiments fully equipped with An-22s. The 566th Solnechnogorsk Military Transport Aviation Regiment operated the type from 1970 through 1987.

One of the earliest missions involving the An-22 was delivering Soviet humanitarian assistance to Peru after the devastating Ancash earthquake in July 1970. During these relief operations, an An-22 was lost on July 18. The aircraft also played a role in transporting Soviet military support to Egypt and Syria during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, as well as aid missions to Angola in 1975 and Ethiopia in 1977.

During the initial phase of the Soviet deployment of airborne troops into Afghanistan in 1979, An-22s from Migalovo were utilized extensively. On October 28, 1984, one such aircraft was shot down shortly after takeoff near Kabul, likely by a SA-7 missile, resulting in approximately 250 fatalities as it was transporting troops. Additional accidents include one crash at Vnukovo Airport in 1980 and two crashes at Migalovo occurring in 1992 and 1994.

In drought relief efforts in Ethiopia during 1984, military An-22s were employed to transport Mi-8 helicopters.

Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, aircraft from the Migalovo-based 8th Military Air Transport Aviation Regiment delivered essential materials for cleanup operations.

Throughout 1987, An-22s supported delivery of military equipment to Angola. The following year, they facilitated transport of roughly 15,000 tons of supplies and about a thousand personnel for earthquake relief following the devastating Armenian earthquake.

File:Russian Air Force Antonov An-22 Petrov.jpg

Rear view of an An-22

The An-22 frequently appeared at international air exhibitions such as the Le Bourget Air Show. In one notable instance during the 1988 Farnborough Airshow, an engine from an An-124 was transported aboard an An-22.

In the late Soviet period and post-Soviet era, these aircraft were deployed to transport internal security forces during various regional conflicts. In particular, they moved Russian peacekeeping troops from the 98th Guards Airborne Division during the Bosnian War in 1995.

By the mid-1990s, around forty-five An-22s remained active primarily within the Russian Air Force but were gradually being replaced by larger turbofan-powered aircraft such as the Antonov An-124. Remaining units appear to be operated by an independent military transport squadron stationed at Migalovo airbase near Tver.

As of December 2018, six An-22s were assigned to the 76th Military Transport Air Squadron based in Tver; however only three were considered airworthy. These aircraft are expected to remain operational until approximately 2033.

One individual An-22 (registration UR-09307) was active with Antonov Airlines as of September 26, 2020 but may have sustained damage during Russia's military operations in Ukraine in early 2022.

Operators

File:An-22 RA-09341 (8711049498).jpg

An-22 operated by the Russian Air Force

Current

Template:RUS

• The Russian Aerospace Forces currently possess 11 An-22 aircraft, with 3 actively operational and 8 grounded.

Former

Template:USSR

• Soviet Air Force

Included the 8th Military Transport Aviation Regiment

Other regiments also operated the type

Civil

File:Antei.jpg

An-22 belonging to Antonov Airlines

Current

Template:UKR

• Antonov Airlines maintained one An-22 (registration UR-09307) in service as of September 26, 2020. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, specifically at the Battle of Antonov Airport on February 24, 2022, this aircraft reportedly sustained significant damage from projectile impacts.

Former

Template:BUL

• Air Sofia (operated under lease)

Incidents and accidents

Up to January 2011, there have been nine total hull losses involving the An-22, resulting in 95 fatalities.Template:Fix/category

Date	Registration	Location	Fatalities	Summary
18 July 1970	СССР-09303	Atlantic Ocean near Keflavík International Airport, Iceland	All 7 passengers and 15 crew members	The aircraft was delivering humanitarian aid to Lima, Peru. Radar contact was lost 47 minutes after departing from Keflavík International Airport.
28 December 2010	RA-09343	Near Krasny Oktyabr, Tula Oblast, Russia	All 12 crew members (no passengers)	RA-09343, operated by the Russian Air Force, crashed during a positioning flight from Voronezh Airport to Migalovo airbase, resulting in the loss of all crew. This aircraft had been stored since 2001 and was restored to flying condition in January 2010.

Specifications (An-22)

Top-down schematic of the Antonov An-22 Antheus.

Top-down schematic of the Antonov An-22 Antheus.

On display

One Antonov An-22 formerly operated by the Ukrainian Air Force is exhibited at the Technik Museum Speyer located in Speyer, Germany.Template:Fix/category

References

• Jean Alexander, Russian Aircraft since 1910, Purnell Book Services, London, 1975.
• Yefim Gordon, Dmitry Komissarov, and Sergei Komissarov, "Antonov An-22: A Venerable Giant," Air International, January 2006, pp. 30–37.
• Bill Gunston, The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995, Osprey, London, 1995, ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
• John Stroud, Soviet Transport Aircraft since 1945, Putnam, London, 1968, ISBN 0-370-00126-5.
• John W. R. Taylor, Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1969–70, Sampson Low Marston & Co., Ltd, London, 1969, ISBN 0-354-000-519.

Further reading

• Pyotr Butowski, "Air Power Analysis – Russian Federation Part 2," in International Air Power Review, Volume 13, Summer 2004, AIRtime Publishing Inc., Norwalk, CT.
• Greg Goebel, "The Antonov Giants," Air Vectors, January 1, 2006. Accessed June 28, 2006. Archived August 12, 2006.
• "Antonov An-22 Antheus," airliners.net. Accessed June 28, 2006. Archived June 18, 2006.

External links

• Walkaround of An-22А RA-09309 at MAKS-2009, Second walkaround
• Walkaround of Ан-22 at Monino Museum in Russia
• Airliners.net page on An-22
• Comparison of AN-22 specifications with other cargo charter aircraft
• Aeronautics.ru profile on An-22
• History of the 8th Air Transport Air Regiment (in Russian)