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Antonov An-26

Antonov · Light Tactical Transport / Light Tactical Airlift · Ukraine · Cold War (1970–1991)

Antonov An-26 — Light Tactical Transport / Light Tactical Airlift
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The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name Curl) is a Soviet twin-engine military cargo aircraft — the militarised cargo derivative of the An-24 short-haul airliner. Antonov built 1,403 An-26s between 1969 and 1986 at the Kiev plant. The aircraft entered Soviet Air Force service in 1969 and continues in active military service in 2026 with about 30 air forces worldwide. The An-26 is the most-numerous Soviet military medium transport ever built and remains the principal Russian Aerospace Forces light field airlifter through 2026.

The An-26 added a rear cargo ramp + tail gunner position to the An-24's airframe (same wings, fuselage cross-section, and engines). Power: two Ivchenko AI-24VT turboprop engines (2,820 shp each) + RU-19A auxiliary turbojet for takeoff boost. Maximum speed 273 mph; range 1,400 miles ferry / 700 miles with maximum load; service ceiling 24,600 ft. Payload: 12,000 lb of cargo / 38 paratroops / 24 stretcher cases. The cargo ramp could be lowered in flight for paratroop drops; the ramp design also allowed roll-on/roll-off vehicle loading.

An-26 service was extensive across Soviet operations and Soviet-aligned air forces. The Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) saw heavy An-26 use including specialised An-26K gunship variants. The aircraft was exported to Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, North Korea, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Vietnam, Yemen, and many others. Russian Aerospace Forces An-26s have been combat-used in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine. The Chinese Xian Y-7H is a domestic licence-built variant with about 50 in PLAAF service. The An-26 remains in production at low rates through Antonov Ukraine for special-missions variants.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Antonov An-26 Curl is a Soviet medium military transport. About 1,403 An-26s were built between 1969 and 1986. It is the militarized cargo version of the An-24 airliner. The An-26 has been used by about 30 air forces and still serves the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2026.

The An-26 is 79 feet long with a 95-foot wingspan, smaller than a Boeing 737. Two Ivchenko AI-24VT turboprop engines each make 2,820 horsepower, plus a small RU-19A jet for takeoff boost. Top speed is 273 mph, faster than most race cars. The plane can carry 12,000 pounds of cargo or 38 paratroopers.

The An-26 added a rear cargo ramp to the An-24's body. The ramp can lower in flight for paratroop drops, or stay raised for normal flight. The ramp also lets trucks drive straight into the cargo bay. Some An-26s have a tail gunner position for self-defense.

The An-26 has served in many conflicts. Soviet An-26s flew in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. Russian An-26s have flown in Syria since 2015 and Ukraine since 2014. About 30 countries still use An-26s, making it one of the most-used Russian transports.

Fun Facts

  • The An-26 Curl is the militarized cargo version of the An-24 airliner.
  • About 1,403 An-26s were built between 1969 and 1986.
  • The An-26 is 79 feet long, smaller than a Boeing 737.
  • Top speed is 273 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The An-26 can carry 12,000 pounds of cargo or 38 paratroopers.
  • An-26s served Soviet forces in the Afghanistan War.
  • About 30 countries still fly An-26s today.

Kids’ Questions

Why is it military?

The An-26 is the An-24 airliner with extra military features. The rear cargo ramp lets paratroopers jump out and trucks drive in. Some An-26s have a tail gunner. The body has tie-down points for cargo. The plane can land on rough dirt strips that no airliner could use. Despite all this, the An-26 still uses the same engines and wings as the civilian An-24.

How does paratroop drop work?

The cargo ramp at the back lowers in flight, opening a big hole. Paratroopers walk to the ramp wearing their parachutes. On the green light, they jump out, falling into the slipstream. The static line on each parachute is hooked to a cable inside the plane. As each soldier falls, the static line opens the parachute. About 38 paratroopers can jump from one An-26 quickly.

Why still in service?

The An-26 is reliable, cheap to fly, and tough. About 30 countries still use them: Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Cuba, Hungary, Romania, and many African nations. New Russian transports like the Il-112 are slow to enter service due to crashes and funding problems. So the old An-26 keeps flying. Many An-26s are 30 to 50 years old and still working.

Variants

An-26 (basic)
Original production. AI-24VT engines, RU-19 turbojet, rear cargo ramp. About 1,300 built.
An-26B (improved)
Updated variant with more-modern avionics and cargo handling. About 100 built.
An-26K (gunship)
Soviet-Afghan War gunship variant with side-firing 23 mm cannons. About 20 conversions for low-intensity counter-insurgency operations.
Xian Y-7H (Chinese licence)
Chinese licence-built variant. About 50 in PLAAF service. Y-7H is the cargo variant; the related Y-7-100 / Y-7-200 are passenger derivatives.

Notable Operators

Russian Aerospace Forces
Largest current military user. About 250 An-26s in active service 2026; principal Russian light field airlifter. Combat-tested in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force
Operates about 30 An-26s in 2026 in light field airlift role. Combat-tested against Russian forces 2022-2026.
~30 export operators
Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, North Korea, Mongolia, Mozambique, Peru, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Vietnam, Yemen, others. Combined export fleet ~400 active airframes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the An-26 different from the An-24?

The Antonov An-24 is the short-haul passenger airliner; the An-26 is the military cargo derivative with rear cargo ramp + tail gunner position. Same wings, fuselage cross-section, AI-24 engines, and most systems. The An-26's added rear ramp lets it carry vehicles, paratroops, and air-droppable cargo that the passenger-airliner An-24 cannot.

Did the An-26 fight in Afghanistan?

Yes — heavily. Soviet Air Forces An-26s were the principal light field airlifter throughout the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghan War. Specialised An-26K gunship variants with side-firing 23 mm cannons were also used; these proved effective in low-intensity counter-insurgency support roles.

How many An-26s were built?

1,403 airframes between 1969 and 1986 at the Kiev plant + ~50 Chinese Xian Y-7H. Combined An-26 / Y-7H production exceeds 1,450 airframes. Antonov continues low-rate production of special-missions An-26 variants through 2026.

Is the An-26 still in front-line service?

Yes — about 30 air forces worldwide operate An-26s in 2026. Russian Aerospace Forces operates ~250 active airframes; Ukrainian Air Force ~30. The aircraft has been combat-tested by both sides in the 2022-onward Russia-Ukraine war.

Sources

See Also