AN-72/74 Intercepted by Belgian Air Force in Baltic

by: Matthew Potter

May 30, 2016

Category: Antonov, Business Line, Companies, Industry Analysis, Military Aviation | RSS 2.0

CNN International is reporting that Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons based in the Baltic States recently intercepted a variety of Russian aircraft. One of the reported ones was the Antonov AN-74 Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) transport, the AN-72/74. The AN-72/74 was developed in the late Seventies and was very similar to a Boeing developmental aircraft for the US Air Force that never went into production.

While the Antonov never was used by the Soviets the company was able to build a quantity in the 90’s which found use with Russian civil airlines, foriegn airlines and the Russian military.

The AN-72/74 are very distinctive with the engines set above the wing to maximize short takeoffs.