An-12BK

The Antonov An‑12BK is a four‑engine turboprop transport aircraft that entered service in the early 1960s as the Soviet Union’s counterpart to the American Lockheed C‑130 Hercules. Designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in Kyiv, the An‑12 first flew on 31 July 1957 and was introduced to Soviet Air Forces in 1959. The BK variant, produced between 1964 and 1975, incorporated strengthened airframe, enlarged cargo door, and upgraded Ivchenko‑AI‑20D turboprop engines delivering 4,000 hp each, allowing a maximum payload of 20 tonnes and a range of roughly 2 500 km with full load. Its high‑wing layout, retractable landing gear, and rear ramp enable rapid loading of vehicles, troops, and supplies, while the pressurised cabin permits long‑haul flights at 9 500 m altitude. Over 300 An‑12BKs were built, serving in military transport, parachute assault, and aerial‑refuel roles across the Warsaw Pact and allied nations. The aircraft’s rugged construction and ability to operate from unprepared strips made it a workhorse in remote theaters, influencing later Antonov designs such as the An‑22 and An‑124. Even after retirement from front‑line service, the An‑12BK remains a symbol of Soviet‑era logistical capability and continues to be operated by civilian cargo operators in limited numbers.

Antonov

Classification

Design & Classification