At dawn in a thick fog, the silence of the Sescha airbase in the Bryansk region was broken by a rush of engines. The roar of aircraft engines echoed across the empty airfield, challenging the silence of the cold morning breeze. The 42 An-2 transport planes are lined up in a neat formation, like a group of veterans on standby, ready to carry out their new mission. These planes, once agricultural tools, are now given an even more serious role – in the tense border situation between Russia and Ukraine, they are about to carry not only supplies, but also hope and the future of the war zone.
Original intention and design
The An-2 transport aircraft, this piston aircraft was not designed for military operations, but to serve the agricultural economy, hence the name "Agricultural Economy Type 1". The main task of this model is to spray pesticides to support the growth of crops in vast fields and increase yields. This use made the An-2 aircraft popular in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, making it an indispensable tool in the agricultural field in these countries.
The An-2's fuselage is 12.7 meters long, and its relatively large size gives it good stability when flying at low altitudes, which is necessary for precise pesticide spraying. With a height of 5.35 meters, it provides enough space to install a variety of spraying equipment and loads. Its unique double-layer wing design, with an upper wingspan of 18.2 meters and a lower wingspan of 14 meters, not only enhances the lift of the aircraft, but also provides additional aerodynamic support when flying at low speeds, which is an important advantage when carrying out agricultural operations in difficult terrain such as mountainous and hilly terrain.
With a maximum empty weight of 3.3 tons, the An-2 is a heavier structure, but the rugged materials and structural strength used in its design ensure the durability and reliability of the aircraft in complex and changeable external environments. In addition, this design also allows the An-2 to carry a large number of pesticides, reducing the number of round-trip replenishments, thereby improving operational efficiency.
Worldwide use and retrofitting
Due to its durable leather, the An-2 transport aircraft was not only widely used in the Soviet Union, but also exported to all over the world, from the grasslands of Asia to the jungles of Africa, from the mountains of Latin America to the plains of Eastern Europe. The vitality of these aircraft is such that they often exceed design life expectations, and in some cases, they outlive their successors, the An-14. Because of their robust structure and ease of maintenance, many developing countries and regions still maintain a high level of dependence on this type of aircraft.
In 1962, North Vietnamese military strategists took a fancy to these characteristics of the An-2 and began to use it for the transportation of military supplies, especially in support of Laos. During the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese converted the An-2 transport aircraft with an additional configuration of door machine guns and S5 rockets. These modifications allow the An-2 to not only safely transport supplies in a complex battlefield environment, but also to suppress ground firepower.
The addition of a door machine gun allows the aircraft to effectively strafe ground targets when flying at low altitudes, and the S5 rocket is equipped with a precision strike against important targets on the ground. These rockets were originally designed for aircraft and helicopters to attack ground targets, but their use on the An-2 proved to be more flexible and tactically valuable. This low-cost but efficient modification greatly expands the combat range and tactical application of the An-2.
This innovative use and modification of North Vietnam soon attracted attention around the world. During the Cold War, many third world countries were looking for affordable, but powerful military equipment. The successful transformation of the An-2 has made these countries see the possibility of militarizing and converting existing civilian aircraft. Soon, the An-2 was widely regarded as the "flying AK47" because it was as reliable, durable, and easy to handle as this famous rifle.
In addition, due to the low cost of modification of the An-2, it made it an "armed pickup with wings". This designation comes from its ability to perform in a variety of environments, from transporting supplies on the plains to armed patrols in the mountains. In Latin America, the An-2 has even been used to supply and arm rebel forces, such as in the 1980s, when the Sandinista Liberation Front in Nicaragua used such aircraft in armed operations.
Application in military operations
In the early 1980s, with the complication of geopolitics, the An-2 transport aircraft played an important role in several conflict zones around the world. In Nicaragua in particular, the Sandinista Liberation Front used such aircraft to fight CIA-backed anti-government forces. They modified the An-2 and installed bombs capable of carrying at least 100 kg. These bombs transformed the An-2 from a peaceful agricultural sprayer into a light bomber with real combat capabilities.
In this way, the Sandinista Liberation Front was able to carry out surprise bombardments in enemy-controlled areas, causing damage to enemy logistics and assembly points. The modification of the An-2 is usually carried out in hidden bases, which are located in the jungle or in the mountains, in order to avoid enemy reconnaissance. The bombs were usually installed under the fuselage and were manually dropped when flying over the target, utilizing a simple release mechanism.
At the same time, in Afghanistan, government forces supported by the USSR also discovered the military potential of the An-2. The Afghan army used the An-2 for armed reconnaissance missions to detect Mujahidi's location and movements. Due to the low heat emitted by the An-2's piston engines, these aircraft have some concealment in the face of infrared-guided shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. This characteristic was especially important in Afghanistan, which remained under the control of government forces after the Soviet withdrawal, when hostile forces had begun to be equipped with infrared-guided weapons supplied by the United States.
When the An-2 is on reconnaissance mission, it flies at low altitude to reduce the risk of being locked by enemy surface-to-air weapons. Its sturdy fuselage structure and relatively low flight speed give the aircraft a good chance of maintaining flight status and returning to base safely, even when hit hard by enemy fire such as anti-aircraft machine guns. This is especially critical in the rugged mountainous region of Afghanistan, where the terrain provides natural cover for aircraft while also increasing the risk of flying.
This versatile use of the An-2 has attracted attention around the globe. Whether in the jungles of Latin America or in the mountains of Central Asia, the An-2 proved to be a multi-purpose aircraft that was both economical and effective. Its modification and use demonstrate that even a platform designed for non-military purposes can be transformed into a tool for specific tactical needs when needed.
Technological innovation and modernization
During the 2020 conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan demonstrated an innovative modification of the An-2 transport aircraft, transforming it into a drone capable of performing precision strike missions. This transformation reflects the adaptability and modernization trends of military technology, in particular, the ability to integrate modern unmanned technologies on traditional aircraft platforms. In this conflict, Azerbaijan's tactics include the use of modified An-2, which is equipped to carry four 250-kilogram FAB-250 bombs aimed at delivering effective strikes against enemy positions.
This modified An-2 retains the basic structure and design of the original aircraft, and realizes partial unmanned by adding an autopilot system and other modern avionics equipment. These systems include flight control systems, navigation systems, and communication systems, allowing the aircraft to automatically fly to a preset target area without the pilot's direct control. Although the aircraft is not fully unmanned, the pilot is still required to guide it close enough to the target after takeoff, and the pilot will then parachute out of the aircraft, after which the aircraft will be taken over by the autopilot system to complete the final flight mission.
The aircraft's autopilot system is specially designed to handle complex flight paths and tactical tasks. The GPS and other navigation tools included in the system ensure that the aircraft can reach the intended target location with precision. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with communication equipment, which allows it to receive instructions and adjustments from the ground command center in real time during the performance of its mission.
The use of this method not only improves the safety of the aircraft in combat, reduces the risk to the pilot, but also allows the aircraft to be used for more dangerous missions. Especially in mountainous and jungle environments such as the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the use of unmanned An-2 allows for more flexible tactical deployment while avoiding direct human losses. The FAB-250 bomb is powerful enough to wreak havoc on enemy ground units, and the use of this bomb further enhances the battlefield effectiveness of the unmanned An-2.
Role in modern conflicts
During the 2022 Russia-Ukraine special military operation, the An-2 transport aircraft once again proved its irreplaceability in modern military strategy. Satellite imagery revealed that 42 An-2 aircraft were assembled at the Seshka airbase in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, which accounts for two-thirds of all An-2 stocks of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The build-up of these aircraft not only reflects their importance in strategic deployment, but also underscores the unique position of the An-2 even in the context of rapid development of modern armaments.
The Seshka airbase in the Bryansk region is an important military base in western Russia, and the deployment of aircraft here is directly related to Russia's defense and strategic deployment on the western border. The presence of An-2 illustrates their ability to carry out rapid deployment and multifunctional mission execution. Although the An-2 was designed decades ago, its structural strength, low cost of operation, and adaptability make it ideal for a variety of tasks such as logistical support, personnel transportation, and emergency material delivery.
In this special military operation, the An-2's role may cover everything from logistical support to battlefield reconnaissance. Due to its low-altitude flight capabilities and low infrared signature characteristics, the An-2 is suitable for reconnaissance and surveillance missions in complex terrain, which is especially important in the forested and hilly terrain of eastern Ukraine. In addition, its ability to take off and land on improvised runways allows it to carry out supply and medical evacuation at close range on the front line, which is a huge advantage in dynamically changing battlefield conditions.
What's more, the durability of the An-2 means that they have a high survival rate even in the face of enemy fire, being able to return safely after completing their mission. This characteristic is especially valuable in wartime, since it reduces the loss of personnel and equipment and maintains the combat effectiveness of combat units.
In addition, the Russian military may have taken into account the potential for modification of the An-2. As has been seen in other regional conflicts, the An-2 can be equipped with light weapons systems to perform low-intensity combat missions, such as light bombing or fire support against ground targets. This flexibility allows the An-2 to quickly switch roles based on battlefield demands, from a traditional transport aircraft to a temporary attack platform.
Aviation World,2020(9):9-16