Russia Appears To Be Preparing Its Ancient An-2 Biplanes For War In Ukraine

[Javaman]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44532/russia-appears-to-be-preparing-its-ancient-an-2-biplanes-for-war-in-ukraine

While the air war in the first week of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine has been dominated by apparent cruise missile strikes launched from bombers, extensive rotary-wing activity, and multiple, unconfirmed reports of air combat involving Russian and Ukrainian jets, one surprising participant looks to be waiting in the wings. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ (VKS) An-2 Colt biplane, a rugged, agricultural-looking design first flown in 1947, could well be getting ready for action over Ukraine, although the exact role it might fulfill remains puzzling.

Although designed primarily for crop-dusting, the An-2 proved to be a highly adaptable aircraft for both civilian and military operators. Even today it remains in frontline service both for various types of special operations work, including in an armed configuration. More commonly, however, it’s used as a training aircraft, especially for paratroopers.

Aerial imagery and accompanying analysis from the satellite imagery and space technology firm Maxar Technologies indicates that a considerable number of An-2s have now been moved to Seshcha Air Base in Bryansk Oblast, a region in western Russia, which shares a border to northern Ukraine.

Maxar satellite photos since February 28, which have been obtained by The Aviationist website, record 42 An-2s at the base, which is normally home to the 566th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (566 VTAP), operating the VKS fleet of giant An-124 Condor heavy transport aircraft. The regiment also flies a squadron of Il-76 Candid airlifters from the same base. The number of An-2s now there is significant, considering a total of around 60 thought to be in VKS service today.

more at link...

[lapfog_1]

1. chemical warfare?

[peggysue2]

2. That was my first, awful thought

[Moostache]

4. Exactly what i thought too...

Population dusting instead of crops....or dropping harmful material indiscriminately over large areas...salting the earth campaign

[Bettie]

18. Radioactive dust?

I hear they have secured a large amount of it recently...

[lagomorph777]

23. My thought too.

[sarisataka]

3. They have been used for military purposes before

Air-ambulance, light ground attack, inserting paratroopers, reconnaissance...

They do not need an airfield to operate from, a flat field or road will work. Also they can fly low and slow, certain AA radars will ignore them even if detected.

[lapfog_1]

5. In about 1 to 2 weeks (if not now)

there will be no fields to land a plane in.... the entire country (except for the far south) is about to turn into fields of mud.

[sarisataka]

11. I wonder if Russia has a collection

Of Marston mats stored in an old warehouse

[hunter]

6. Perhaps the computers on modern aircraft wouldn't boot...

.

[PatSeg]

9. I wonder

[MineralMan]

7. AN-2

[bdamomma]

8. throwback to

1940's?

[MineralMan]

10. Yup. It's a workhorse plane.

It's very reliable, can carry some cargo, and has no technology that depends on constant maintenance. OTOH, it flies very slowly.

I'm not sure what it would be used for in Ukraine, though.

[CentralMass]

12. Looks like STOL (short take off and landing) aircraft that needs very little runway.

They could if undetected touchdown just about anywhere.

[MineralMan]

14. Yes, it is. It can also take off and land on

grass or dirt. There's a reason that it's still in operation in the Russian Air Force.

[CentralMass]

16. Interesting. They could fly in supplies or special forces etc..

[MineralMan]

19. Yes. It's their Jeep of the air.

I can't remember its capacity for passengers and cargo. I knew it at one time though. Here's a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-2

[CentralMass]

20. Ironically it looks like the aircraft was manufactured in Soviet Ukraine back in the day.

The discussion that about 5 minutes into the video.

[MineralMan]

24. Well, it has been manufactured in several places,

including Ukraine and China.

It's truly a workhorse of a plane. It can fly as slowly as 35 MPH, and actually has no stall speed. It's an interesting aircraft, to be sure. It can be mounted with skis or pontoons, as well. It's a wonderful old design.

[JHB]

15. Just about any biplane is STOL by modern standards.

The whole point of the design is to maximize wing surface area while saving weight. A monoplane with the same wing area would need heavier structure to support the wing.

[mitch96]

13. They need a inexpensive way to knock them out of the sky.. SAM'S are too expensive..

reserve them for Jets... MANPADS?
m
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-portable_air-defense_system
russian SA7

[roamer65]

17. Stingers will get them very easily.

Afghanistan 2.0

[sarisataka]

21. It is possible they may be immune to Stingers

They will have a much lower heat signature than a jet or helicopter

[jmowreader]

22. Sounds like they have decided to use their special forces units

You know them as Spetznaz. The AN-2TD will carry 12 paratroopers, which is the size of a Spetznaz team. They don’t make much noise, they fly under radar and they don’t generate enough heat to interest a Stinger’s search head. They also made these until 2001, so it’s not like they’re dredging up old World War II-aged equipment.

However! They are definitely not immune to bullets fired from the DShK-38 .50-caliber machine gun Ukrainian units have plenty of. They’re also slow enough that you can track them pretty easily with a Dashika’s optical sights.

To me, this screams desperation. Shouldn’t they have sent snake eaters in BEFORE the main force to prepare the battlefield, like they did in Afghanistan, rather than waiting until their conventional forces had been kicked around a week by 18-year-olds who’d never held a gun until they started using one to shoot at Russian soldiers?