An-26 Curl

The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a Soviet twin-engined turboprop regional airliner and military transport aircraft produced from 1969 to 1986. Derived as the third member of the Antonov An-24 family, the aircraft was primarily delivered to Soviet Military Transport Aviation (VTA). It is recognized for its retractable cargo ramp that allows pressurized flight and direct loading from vehicle beds, as well as its secondary application as an improvised bomber.

Development

Antonov initiated development of the An-26 in 1966 to resolve cargo handling limitations inherent to the ventral hatch of the preceding An-24T. The design bureau received official authorization to proceed in March 1968, prioritizing military transport requirements. The second prototype (CCCP-26184) made its public debut at the 27th Paris Air Show. The aircraft was produced in the Soviet Union until 1986, and was also manufactured in China without a licensing agreement as the Y-14, later designated under the Xi'an Y-7 series.

Design

The An-26 utilizes a high-set cantilever wing and long main undercarriage legs while sharing most of its airframe with the An-24. Main propulsion consists of two wing-mounted Progress AI-24VT turboprop engines, augmented by a Tumansky Ru19A-300 turbojet booster in the starboard nacelle for additional takeoff thrust and auxiliary power. The fuselage incorporates a specialized rear ramp that lowers for vehicles, slides underneath for loading from truck beds, and seals the cargo hold to enable flight pressurization. Military equipment includes tip-up canvas paratroop seats, an overhead traveling hoist, static line cables, and bulged observation windows. The interior can be reconfigured within 30 minutes to accommodate 24 stretchers for medical evacuation.

Armament

The aircraft features external bomb racks mounted on the fuselage fore and aft of the main landing gear legs. During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, the Vietnam People's Air Force modified the interior with a release system to roll captured Mark 82 bombs out of the cargo bay. Total payload capacity for military cargo or ordnance is 5,500 kg.

Operational History

The Afghan Air Force acquired the An-26 in 1977, operating 36 units by 1986 for commando drops and tactical transport. The aircraft saw combat as an improvised bomber with the Vietnam People's Air Force in Cambodia and the Sudanese Air Force in Darfur and the Second Sudanese Civil War. In 1995, an An-26 was used in the Purulia arms drop incident over West Bengal, India. Export customers include Angola, Cuba, East Germany, Hungary, Peru, Poland, and Vietnam.

Variants

• An-26: Baseline twin-engine tactical transport aircraft designated "Curl-A" by NATO.
• An-26B: Civil cargo version featuring stowable cabin-side ramps and higher-thrust Progress AI-24VT engines.
• An-26RT: Battlefield communications relay and electronic intelligence variant equipped with radio relay systems.
• An-26Sh: Navigator training variant built in Kyiv for the Soviet Air Force.
• Xian Y-7H: Chinese military transport version based on the An-26 design.