View source for Antonov An-22

{{Short description|Soviet heavy military transport aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = An-22 "Antei"
 |image = File:Antonov An-22A Antei, Russia - Air Force AN2203462.jpg
 |caption = Antonov An-22
 |type = [[Airlift|Strategic airlifter]]
 |national_origin = [[Soviet Union]]
 |manufacturer = [[Antonov]]
 |designer = 
 |first_flight= 27 February 1965
 |introduction= [[1967 in aviation|1967]]
 |retired=
 |status= In limited service
 |primary_user= [[Russian Aerospace Forces]]
 |more_users= [[Aeroflot]]<br />[[Antonov Airlines]]
 |produced= 1966–1976
 |number_built= 68
 |unit cost=
 |variants=
}}

The '''Antonov An-22 "Antei"''' ({{Langx|ru|Ан-22 Антей|An-22 Antey}};<ref>named for the mythical [[Antaeus|Greek half-giant]]</ref> {{lit|[[Antaeus]]}}; [[NATO reporting name]]: "'''Cock'''") is a heavy [[military transport aircraft]] designed by the [[Antonov Design Bureau]] in the [[Soviet Union]]. Powered by four [[turboprop]] engines, each driving a pair of [[contra-rotating propellers]], the design was the first [[wide-body aircraft|wide-body transport aircraft]] and remains the world's largest turboprop-powered aircraft to date. The An-22 first appeared publicly outside the Soviet Union at the 1965 [[Paris Air Show]]. Thereafter, the model saw extensive use in major military and humanitarian [[airlift]]s for the Soviet Union, and is still in service with the [[Russian Aerospace Forces]].

== Design and development ==
[[File:Aeroflot An-22 CCCP-64459 UKKM 1991-8-18.png|thumb|First prototype of the An-22 (CCCP-64459; currently UR-64459), pictured in 1991 at [[Gostomel Airport]].]]
[[File:An-22. Front view.jpg|thumb|left|Front view.]]
[[File:An-22. Bottom view.jpg|thumb|left|Bottom view.]]
In the late 1950s, the Soviet Union required a large military transport aircraft to supplement the [[Antonov An-8]] and [[Antonov An-12|An-12s]] then entering service.<ref name="aw" /> Originally known as the An-20, the model is a conventional multi-engined high-wing design.<ref name="aw" /> In the early 1960s, the Antonov bureau produced a wooden mock up at its Kyiv, Ukraine, workshops of what was designated the Model 100.<ref name="aw" /> The prototype, now designated the An-22, was rolled out on 18 August 1964 and first flew on 27 February 1965.<ref name="aw" /> The prototype was given the name [[Antaeus]] (sometimes misspelled Antheus) and, after four months of test-flying, was displayed at the 1965 [[Paris Air Show]].<ref name="aw" /> All aircraft were built at the [[Tashkent Aviation Production Association|Tashkent State Aircraft Factory]] and the first military delivery was made to the Air Transport Wing at Ivanovo Airbase in 1969.<ref name="aw" />

The aircraft was designed as a [[airlift#Strategic airlift|strategic airlifter]], designed specifically to expand the [[Soviet Airborne Forces]]' capability to land with their then-new [[BMD-1]] armoured vehicles. The An-22 cargo hold can accommodate four BMD-1s compared to only one in the [[An-12]].

It has the capability to takeoff from austere, unpaved, and short airstrips, allowing airborne troops to perform [[Landing operation|air-landing operations]]. This is achieved by four pairs of [[contra-rotating propellers]], similar to those on the [[Tupolev Tu-114]]. The propellers and exhaust from the engines produce a slipstream over the wings and large double-slotted [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. The [[landing gear]] is ruggedized for rough airstrips. In early versions [[Central Tire Inflation System|tire pressures could be adjusted in flight]] for optimum landing performance. That feature was removed in later models.

The An-22 follows traditional cargo transport design with a high-mounted wing allowing a large cargo space of 33&nbsp;m in length and a usable volume of 639&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>. The forward fuselage is fully pressurized and provides space for 5 to 8 crew and up to 28 passengers, but the cargo space is pressurized to only 3.55 PSI / 0.245 bar allowing for a lighter airframe. A door equipped with pressure bulkhead is located at frame 14, separating the cargo attendant's compartment from the main cargo compartment. This allows the rear cargo doors to be opened during flight for paratroops and equipment drop. Like the An-12, the aircraft has a circular fuselage section. The An-22 has set a number of payload and payload-to-height world records.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

The An-22 has the general appearance of an enlarged version of the earlier [[Antonov An-12]] except that it is fitted with a [[twin tail]]. This gives the An-22 better engine-out performance, and reduces height restrictions for hangars. Also of note are large anti-flutter masses on the top of each tail.

[[File:1965. Антей.jpg|thumb|right|Soviet 1965 [[postage stamp]] showcasing the An-22 success at the Paris Air Show.]]
Only one production variant was built, the standard An-22.{{clarify|date=May 2013}} Prototypes, such as the one first featured at the [[1965 in aviation|1965]] [[Paris Air Show]] had fully glazed noses that lacked the nose-mounted [[radar]] of production models. Those aircraft had the radar mounted below the right wheel well fairing, forward of the wheels. Antonov designated a variant with a modified electrical system and an additional augmented flight control system the An-22A but the designation was not used by the military.<ref name="aw" />

A civil airliner version with a lengthened fuselage capable of seating 724 passengers on upper and lower decks was studied but was not built.<ref>Taylor 1969, p. 466</ref>

=== Total production ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; font-size: 96%;"
|-
!Total Production<ref>{{cite web|url=https://russianplanes.net/planelist/Antonov/An-22|title=✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация|website=russianplanes.net|access-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002506/https://russianplanes.net/planelist/Antonov/An-22|archive-date=25 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>!! 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|thumb|The An-22 is capable of operations at airports with unpaved runways. Here the An-22 lands at [[Gao International Airport]] in [[Mali]], 2016]]
[[File:Antonov An-22 amphibious version profile line drawing.jpg|thumb|Drawing of the An-22's proposed amphibious variant]]
[[File:Lifting.AN-22 RA-09341 (8704268263).jpg|thumb|Side profile]]
;An-22
:Three original prototypes were built at the [[Antonov]] facility in [[Kyiv]], with glass nose.
;Amphibious An-22
:An [[amphibious aircraft|amphibian]] version of the An-22 was proposed, but did not progress past the scale model phase.
;An-22
:Initial production variant with external start system, 37 built at [[Tashkent Mechanical Plant|Tashkent]].
;An-22A
:Improved variant with air-start capability, modified electrical system, and updated radio and navigation equipment, 28 built at Tashkent.
;An-22PZ
:Conversion of two An-22s to carry wing centre sections or outer wings of Antonov An-124 or An-225 externally above fuselage. Fitted with third centreline fin.<ref name="AI p35-6">Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov ''Air International'' January 2006, pp. 35–36.</ref>

Several other An-22 variants were projected and constructed by Antonov but never entered serial production, notably a [[Nuclear aircraft|nuclear-powered aircraft]] and a [[ICBM|ballistic missile]] platform.{{Cn|date=August 2023}}

== Operational history ==

The An-22 was originally built for the [[Soviet Air Force]] and [[Aeroflot]] (the state airline). Conversion from [[An-12]] in the Air Force began in July 1974. Several [[Military Transport Aviation]] units were equipped. The 12th Mginsk Red Banner Military Transport Aviation Division (based at [[Migalovo]]) was one of the units which had its three regiments entirely equipped with the An-22s. Another unit that operated it was the 566th [[Solnechnogorsk]] Military Transport Aviation Regiment, which used the An-22 from 1970 to 1987.

An early use of the An-22 was to deliver Soviet [[humanitarian aid]] to [[Peru]] in July 1970 following the [[1970 Ancash earthquake|Ancash earthquake]]. One An-22 disappeared on 18 July during these relief flights. An-22s were also used to deliver Soviet military aid to [[Egypt]] and [[Syria]] during the [[Yom Kippur War]] in 1973, to [[Angola]] in 1975, and to [[Ethiopia]] in 1977.<ref name="AI p36-7">Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov ''Air International'' January 2006, pp. 36–37.</ref>

The An-22s from Migalovo were used for the initial deployment of the [[Soviet Airborne Troops]] (VDV) during the 1979 [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]]. One An-22 was shot down at takeoff (probably by an [[9K32 Strela-2|SA-7]] missile) near [[Kabul]] on 28 October 1984 with about 250 casualties as the aircraft was used as troop carrier.<ref name="AI p37">Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov ''Air International'' January 2006, p. 37.</ref> In 1980, one An-22 crashed at [[Vnukovo International Airport|Vnukovo Airport]] while two crashed at Migalovo (in 1992 and 1994).

In 1984, military An-22s were used to deliver [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]] helicopters to [[Ethiopia]] during [[drought]] relief operations.

In 1986 the aircraft of the 8th Military Air Transport Aviation Regiment from Migalovo were used to deliver materials for the [[Chernobyl disaster]] relief operation.

During 1987 the An-22s were used to deliver military equipment to [[Angola]]. A year later the military An-22s were used to deliver 15,000 tons and 1,000 personnel for the [[1988 Armenian earthquake]] relief operation.

[[File:Russian Air Force Antonov An-22 Petrov.jpg|thumb|right|View of an An-22 from behind.]]
The An-22 aircraft were often seen at the [[Paris Air Show|Le Bourget Air Show]], and in 1988 delivered an engine from the [[An-124]] to the [[Farnborough Airshow]].

In late 1980s, the An-22s were used to deliver [[Internal Troops]] to many regional conflicts during and after the [[breakup of the Soviet Union]]. In 1995 they deployed the Russian peacekeeping force from the [[98th Guards Airborne Division]] during the [[Bosnian War]].

Approximately 45 An-22s remained in service by the mid-1990s, mostly with the [[Russian Air Force]], but these are slowly being replaced by the bigger turbofan-powered [[Antonov An-124]]. The remaining An-22s appear to be operated by an independent military transport aviation squadron at Migalovo base in [[Tver]].

As of December 2018, six An-22s were in service with the 76th Military Transport Air Squadron at Tver, with only three aircraft airworthy. They are planned to remain in service until 2033.<ref name="ai119p20-1">{{cite magazine|last=Taghvaee|first=Babak|title=An-22 in the war on terror|magazine=[[Air International]]|date=January 2019|volume=96|issue=1|pages=20–21|issn=0306-5634}}</ref>

A single An-22 (registration number UR-09307) is in service with Antonov Airlines as of September 26, 2020 but was potentially damaged in 2022 during Russia's military action in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuQGvi_R8zg|title = АЭРОПОРТ ГОСТОМЕЛЬ. Здесь был "русский мир"|website = [[YouTube]]| date=2 April 2022 }}</ref>

== Operators ==
[[File:An-22 RA-09341 (8711049498).jpg|thumb|An-22 of the [[Russian Air Force]]]]
=== Military ===
==== Current ====
;{{RUS}}
*[[Russian Aerospace Forces]] own 11 aircraft 3 active other 8 are grounded.

==== Former ====
;{{USSR}}
*[[Soviet Air Force]].
:8th Military Transport Aviation Regiment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/tap/8vtap.htm|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130212184940/http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/tap/8vtap.htm|archive-date=12 February 2013|title=8th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment}}</ref>
:Other regiments

=== Civil ===
[[File:Antei.jpg|thumb|An-22 of [[Antonov Airlines]]]]
==== Current ====
;{{UKR}}
*[[Antonov Airlines]] – a single An-22 (registration number UR-09307) was in service with Antonov Airlines as of September 26, 2020. During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] at the [[Battle of Antonov Airport]] on February 24, 2022, the aircraft reportedly suffered substantial damage when penetrated by projectiles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20220224-5|title=ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-22A UR-09307 Kyiv-Gostomel Airport (GML)}}</ref>

==== Former ====
;{{BUL}}
*[[Air Sofia]] (leased)

== Incidents and accidents ==
As of January 2011, there have been 9 hull losses with a total of 95 fatalities.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:100px;"|Date
!width="75"|Registration
! style="width:140px;"|Location
!width="50"|Fatalities
! style="width:450px;"|Brief description
|-
| [[1970 Atlantic Ocean Antonov An-22 crash|18 July 1970]]
| СССР-09303
| The Atlantic Ocean near [[Keflavík International Airport]], Iceland
| All of 7 passengers + 15 crew
| Was transporting humanitarian aid to [[Lima]], [[Peru]].
Radar contact was lost 47 minutes after takeoff from [[Keflavík International Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airwar.ru/enc/craft/an22.html|title=Антонов АН-22 Антей|website=www.airwar.ru|access-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180627/http://www.airwar.ru/enc/craft/an22.html|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=live}}{{unreliable source?|date=January 2025}}</ref>
|-
| 28 December 2010
| RA-09343
| Near Krasny Oktyabr ([[Tula Oblast]], Russia)
| All 12 crew
(no passengers)
| RA-09343 of the [[Russian Air Force]] crashed killing all twelve crew. The aircraft was on a positioning flight from [[Voronezh Airport]] to [[Migalovo]] airbase.<ref name=ASN281210>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20101228-0 |title=RA09343 Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625003857/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20101228-0 |archive-date=25 June 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The aircraft had been in storage since 2001 and was brought back into flying condition in January 2010.<ref name=Scramble>{{cite web |url=https://www.scramble.nl/database/soviet/details/25_18135 |title=An-22A c/n 043482272 |website=Soviet Transport Database|publisher=Dutch Aviation Society |access-date=18 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Giant Antonov An-22 cargo plane crashes in rural Russia | work = BBC News | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12088525 | access-date = 28 December 2010 | date=29 December 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110126030748/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12088525| archive-date= 26 January 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>
|}

== Specifications (An-22) ==
[[File:Antonov An-22 dorsal silhouette.png|right|300px|Dorsally projected diagram of the Antonov An-22 Antheus.]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1991–92<ref name=JAWA1991-92>{{cite book | editor-last=Lambert | editor-first=Mark | display-editors=etal | title=Jane's all the world's aircraft : 1991–92 | publisher=Jane's Information Group | year=1991 | isbn=9780710609656 | oclc=1035932568 | url=https://archive.org/details/janesallworldsai00lamb | access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=5–6
|capacity=28–29 pax / {{cvt|80000|kg|0}} maximum payload
|length m=57.92
|length note=approx (dependent on nose config.)
|span m=64.4
|span note=
|height m=12.53
|height note=
|wing area sqm=345
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:'''TsAGI S-5-16 ; '''tip:''' TsAGI S-5-13<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=114000
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=250000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity= {{cvt|43000|kg|0}} maximum
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=[[Kuznetsov NK-12MA]]
|eng1 type=[[turboprop]] engines
|eng1 shp=15000
|eng1 note=(equivalent)

|prop blade number=8
|prop name=contra-rotating constant-speed reversible-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=740
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=5000
|range note=with maximum payload
::::{{cvt|10950|km|mi nmi}} with maximum fuel and {{cvt|45000|kg|0}} payload
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|combat range km=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m= 9100
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=724.6
|wing loading note=max
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.1088|hp/lb|kW/kg|order=flip}} max
|more performance=
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|1300|m|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt|800|m|0}}
|avionics=
}}

== On display ==
A former Ukrainian Air Force AN-22 is on display at the [[Technik Museum Speyer]] in [[Speyer, Germany]].{{cn|date=January 2025}}

== See also ==
{{aircontent
|sequence=
|related=
* {{annotated link|Antonov An-12}}
|similar aircraft= <!-- An-22 is 250t MTOW -->
* {{annotated link|Douglas C-133 Cargomaster}} <!-- 130t MTOW -->
* {{annotated link|Boeing C-17 Globemaster III}} <!-- 265t MTOW -->
* {{annotated link|Ilyushin Il-76}} <!-- 210t MTOW -->
* {{annotated link|Xi'an Y-20}} <!-- 220t MTOW -->
* {{annotated link|Airbus A400M Atlas}} <!-- 155t MTOW -->
*[[Short Belfast]]-British military transport aircraft
|lists=
* [[List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS]]
|see also=
}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="aw">{{cite magazine | title= Antonov An-22 Antheus |author=Sebastian Zacharias |magazine= [[Airliner World]] |pages=58–62 |date=June 2001 |issn=1465-6337}}</ref>
}}

*{{cite book|last=Alexander|first=Jean|title=Russian Aircraft since 1910|year=1975|publisher=Purnell Book Services|location=London}}
*{{cite magazine|last1=Gordon |first1=Yefim |last2=Komissarov |first2=Dmitry |last3=Komissarov|first3=Sergei| title=Antonov An-22: A Venerable Giant|magazine=[[Air International]]|date=January 2006|pages=30–37}}
*{{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995|year=1995|publisher=London|location=Osprey|isbn=1-85532-405-9|author-link=Bill Gunston}}
*{{cite book|last=Stroud|first=John|title=Soviet Transport Aircraft since 1945|year=1968|publisher=Putnam|location=London|isbn=0-370-00126-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=John W. R. |author-link=John W. R. Taylor |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1969–70 |year=1969 |location=London |publisher=Sampson Low Marston & Co., Ltd |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.
* {{cite web|last=Goebel|first=Greg|url=http://vectorsite.net/avantgt.html|title=The Antonov Giants|work=Air Vectors|date=1 January 2006|access-date=28 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812050412/http://www.vectorsite.net/avantgt.html|archive-date=12 August 2006|url-status=usurped}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=36|title=Antonov An-22 Antheus|access-date=28 June 2006|work=airliners.net| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060618095347/http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=36| archive-date= 18 June 2006 | url-status= live}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/walkarounds/avia/after_1950/An-22a/ Walkaround An-22А RA-09309 at MAKS-2009], [http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/walkarounds/avia/after_1950/An-22_001/ Second walk]
* [http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat_cid_243.html Walkaround Ан-22 at Monino Museum, Russia]
* [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=36 Airliners.net An-22]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140407095537/http://www.chapman-freeborn.com/en/cargo_aircraft_specifications AN-22 specifications in comparison to other cargo charter aircraft]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010306044927/http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/an22-01.htm Aeronautics.ru An-22]
* [http://www.airforce.ru/history/76gvtae/index.htm 8th air transport air regiment (in Russian)]
{{Antonov aircraft}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Antonov An-022}}
[[Category:Antonov aircraft|An-022]]
[[Category:1960s Soviet cargo aircraft]]
[[Category:1960s Soviet military transport aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with contra-rotating propellers]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined turboprop aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1965]]
[[Category:Double-deck aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-tail aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]