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Antonov An-30

Antonov · Maritime Patrol / Survey · USSR · Cold War (1970–1991)

Antonov An-30 — Maritime Patrol / Survey
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The Antonov An-30 (NATO reporting name Clank) is a Soviet aerial-survey aircraft — a specialised modification of the An-24 / An-26 family fitted with a glazed nose, large camera ports in the cabin floor, and dedicated photo-survey equipment. Antonov built 123 An-30s between 1971 and 1980 at the Kiev plant. The aircraft entered Soviet Aeroflot Geodetic Service in 1973 for civil aerial-photography use; military variants served the Soviet Air Forces in reconnaissance and treaty-verification roles. As of 2026 the type is largely retired but a small number of An-30s remain in active service for treaty verification flights under the Open Skies Treaty (until U.S. and Russian withdrawal from that treaty 2020-2021).

The An-30 used the An-24RV's airframe with a unique glazed nose for the navigator-cum-photographer to operate the camera installation directly. The cabin had a bay floor with five large camera ports for vertical and oblique aerial photography. Power: two Ivchenko AI-24VT turboprop engines (2,820 shp each) + RU-19A auxiliary turbojet. Maximum speed 248 mph; range 1,400 miles; service ceiling 27,500 ft. Crew: 7 (2 pilots + navigator/photographer + 4 photo technicians). The aircraft could carry up to 5 large-format aerial cameras simultaneously; modern conversions added side-looking-airborne-radar and infrared-linescan sensors.

An-30 service spanned civil cartography (Soviet domestic mapping + Cuban / Indian / Vietnamese export survey contracts) and military reconnaissance. The Open Skies Treaty (1992-2020) used An-30 OSO variants for cooperative aerial reconnaissance flights between the U.S., Russia, and other treaty signatories. About 12 An-30 OSO airframes were built or modified specifically for Open Skies operations; these were grounded after U.S. and Russian withdrawal from the treaty in 2020-2021. About 4 An-30 airframes survive in 2026 in static-display condition.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Antonov An-30 Clank is a Soviet aerial-survey plane. About 123 An-30s were built between 1971 and 1980. The plane is based on the An-24 and An-26 family with a special glazed glass nose for the navigator. The An-30 takes pictures of the ground from high above.

The An-30 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. Top speed is 273 mph, faster than most race cars. The cabin has 5 big camera ports in the floor for vertical and oblique aerial photography.

The glass nose lets the navigator-photographer aim the cameras directly. The 5 cabin ports allow several cameras to work at once: vertical down, sideways, and forward. This makes the An-30 very efficient at mapping large areas of ground.

The An-30 served Soviet civilian map-making since 1973 and military spy missions. From 1992 to 2020, An-30s flew Open Skies Treaty verification flights, where countries could photograph each other's military bases legally. After America and Russia left the treaty in 2020 and 2021, most An-30s were retired. A few still fly for civil mapping.

Fun Facts

  • The An-30 Clank is a Soviet aerial-survey plane based on the An-24.
  • About 123 An-30s were built between 1971 and 1980.
  • The An-30 is 79 feet long, smaller than a Boeing 737.
  • Top speed is 273 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The cabin has 5 big camera ports for aerial photography.
  • The glazed glass nose lets the navigator aim cameras directly.
  • An-30s flew Open Skies Treaty verification flights 1992 to 2020.

Kids’ Questions

What is the glass nose for?

The An-30 has a fully glazed nose section, like a WWII bomber. The navigator sits in the nose with a big camera, aiming it directly at the ground below. The glass nose gives a clear forward and downward view. Soviet engineers thought this was the best way for the navigator-photographer to do their job, instead of a small camera viewfinder.

What was the Open Skies Treaty?

The Open Skies Treaty was a 1992 deal between America, Russia, and 32 other countries. Each country could fly verification planes over the others, taking pictures of military bases. This built trust that countries were honoring arms control deals. America used Boeing OC-135s; Russia used An-30s. The treaty ended in 2020 to 2021 when America and Russia both withdrew.

Why retired by 2020?

Most An-30 work was Open Skies Treaty flights, which ended around 2020. Modern satellite cameras can take pictures of military bases much more cheaply than An-30 flights. Soviet maps from An-30 surveys are mostly done. Russia and Ukraine retired most An-30s. A few still fly for civil map-making and pollution surveys, but the type is mostly out of service.

Variants

An-30 (civil cartography)
Standard production variant. About 100 built. Used for Soviet domestic cartography + civil export survey contracts.
An-30B (military reconnaissance)
Soviet Air Forces military variant with additional side-looking-airborne-radar. About 23 built.
An-30 OSO (Open Skies Treaty)
Modified for Open Skies Treaty cooperative aerial reconnaissance. About 12 conversions. Grounded 2020-2021 after U.S. + Russian withdrawal from the treaty.

Notable Operators

Aeroflot Geodetic Service
Largest civil user. Operated about 80 An-30s for Soviet domestic cartography and export survey contracts 1973-1990s.
Soviet / Russian Air Forces
Operated about 25 An-30s for military reconnaissance and Open Skies Treaty verification. Open Skies use ended 2020-2021.
Cuba, India, Vietnam, Mongolia (export)
Smaller export operators. Combined ~15 airframes used for civil cartography in their respective countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the An-30 designed for?

Soviet aerial cartography and survey work. The An-24's airframe was modified with a glazed nose for the navigator/photographer + 5 camera ports in the cabin floor for vertical and oblique aerial photography. About 80 An-30s served the Soviet Aeroflot Geodetic Service for domestic mapping; smaller numbers were exported to Cuba, India, Vietnam, and Mongolia for similar civil work.

What is the Open Skies Treaty?

The 1992 Treaty on Open Skies allowed cooperative aerial reconnaissance flights between the U.S., Russia, and 32 other signatory nations as a confidence-building arms-control measure. The An-30 OSO variants were the Russian platform for these flights; American flights used OC-135B Open Skies aircraft (Boeing 707 derivatives). The U.S. withdrew in 2020; Russia withdrew in 2021. About 12 An-30 OSO airframes were grounded after the withdrawals.

How many An-30s were built?

123 airframes between 1971 and 1980 at the Kiev plant. Production was small relative to the An-24 / An-26 family because the aerial-survey mission required specialised equipment and limited Aeroflot Geodetic Service demand.

Are any An-30s still flying?

No An-30 is in active in-service service in 2026. The Open Skies An-30 OSO airframes were grounded after the U.S. and Russian withdrawals from the Open Skies Treaty in 2020-2021. Russian Aerospace Forces retired the type around 2022. About 4 airframes survive in static-display condition.

Sources

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