An‑72 explosion at Moscow airbase costs £3.6 million loss
An explosion occurred involving an An-72 aircraft at Ostafyevo Airport near Moscow on 12 December. This information was shared by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR), which released a short video depicting the incident.
On 12 December 2024, a military transport An-72 aircraft exploded at Ostafyevo Airport in the Moscow region. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR), the main engine unit of the aircraft belonging to the Russian Navy exploded. No further details are known regarding the operation involving the An-72 explosion.
Financial losses
According to GUR, the value of the destroyed aircraft is about £3.6 million. The Ukrainians further emphasised in the statement that for every criminal act against the Ukrainian people, there will be an appropriate retaliation.
Russian transport aircraft
The Antonov An-72 is a transport aircraft rarely seen over Ukraine, which is due to its primary purpose. Its design allows for carrying loads weighing up to 10,000 kg and transporting a maximum of 52 passengers, or up to 68 in a configuration with additional seats. Because of these features, this aircraft is usually used for domestic military transports and delivering light military equipment to safe areas away from combat zones.
The An-72 aircraft is distinguished by its specific overwing engines, which generate a phenomenon known as the Coanda effect. Thanks to this phenomenon, the aircraft gains increased lift. This effect is based on the principle that the stream of gas from the engines adheres to the nearest surface it encounters. The Coanda effect is applied in various aircraft designs, including planes like the Boeing YC-14, which was the first to utilise this phenomenon in modern aviation.
In terms of performance, the An-72 can reach speeds of up to 700 km/h, with a range of over 4,300 km. The aircraft is powered by two Progress D-36 engines, each with a maximum thrust of 6,520 kgf. The An-72 design, created in the late 1970s, has a length of slightly over 28 metres and a wingspan of nearly 32 metres.
