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Tu-126 Tupolev
Tu-126
ASCC codename: Moss
Airborne Early Warning
And Control Aircraft

DESCRIPTION:
As the remarkable Tu-114 civil airliner was withdrawn from Aeroflot service, about 12 were modified for use as airborne early warning aircraft for the Soviet Navy. The conversion process added a large survellance radar in a rotating dome mounted over the rear-fuselage and replaced the passenger cabin with communications, radar, and signal processing consoles for at least 10 specialist operators.
In addition, the exterior of the aircraft was covered with a number of blisters and fairings covering various electronics equipment. An in-flight refueling system was also installed to increase endurance while a large ventral strake was added to improve stability. The Tu-126 may also have been equipped with powerful jamming equipment for use in an offensive jamming role, but its primary purpose was to supplement Soviet ground-based radars and direct interceptors against low-flying targets.
Although the capabilities of the Tu-126 were often derided by the West who doubted the performance of Soviet electronics, one Tu-126 transferred to the Indian Air Force was highly rated as an exceptional platform during the nation's 1971 war with Pakistan. Nevertheless, the type was withdrawn by about 1990 and replaced by the much more modern A-50.
Last modified 08 August 2010

HISTORY:

First Flight 1967

Service Entry

1971

CREW: 14 to 15: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, 10 or 11 systems specialists

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root TsAGI SR-5S

Wing Tip

TsAGI SR-5S

DIMENSIONS:

Length 188.00 ft (57.30 m)

Wingspan 177.33 ft (54.10 m) without refueling probe
167.50 ft (51.10 m) with refueling probe

Height 50.67 ft (15.50 m)

Wing Area 3,348.76 ft² (311.10 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 200,000 lb (90,720 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 364,970 lb (165,550 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

unknown

PROPULSION:

Powerplant four Kuznetsov NK-12MV turborpops each driving two AV-60H counter-rotating four-balded reverse-pitch propellers

Thrust 59,180 eshp (44,132 ekW)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 460 mph (740 km/h)
at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 32,820 ft (10,000 m)

Range unknown

Endurance 25 hr

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun none

Stations none

Air-to-Air Missile none

Air-to-Surface Missile none

Bomb none

Other none

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Tu-126 Former civil Tu-114 aircraft modified with a large surveillance radar in a radome, processing equipment, and an in-flight refueling probe; about 12 converted

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

Bangladesh War (India, 1971)

KNOWN OPERATORS:

India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Tu-126

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 291.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 885, Tupolev Tu-114 and Tu-126.

Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 740, Tupolev Tu-114: Mother of 'Moss'.

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	Tupolev Tu-126 ASCC codename: Moss Airborne Early Warning And Control Aircraft

DESCRIPTION: As the remarkable Tu-114 civil airliner was withdrawn from Aeroflot service, about 12 were modified for use as airborne early warning aircraft for the Soviet Navy. The conversion process added a large survellance radar in a rotating dome mounted over the rear-fuselage and replaced the passenger cabin with communications, radar, and signal processing consoles for at least 10 specialist operators. In addition, the exterior of the aircraft was covered with a number of blisters and fairings covering various electronics equipment. An in-flight refueling system was also installed to increase endurance while a large ventral strake was added to improve stability. The Tu-126 may also have been equipped with powerful jamming equipment for use in an offensive jamming role, but its primary purpose was to supplement Soviet ground-based radars and direct interceptors against low-flying targets. Although the capabilities of the Tu-126 were often derided by the West who doubted the performance of Soviet electronics, one Tu-126 transferred to the Indian Air Force was highly rated as an exceptional platform during the nation's 1971 war with Pakistan. Nevertheless, the type was withdrawn by about 1990 and replaced by the much more modern A-50. Last modified 08 August 2010
HISTORY:
First Flight	1967
Service Entry	1971
CREW:	14 to 15: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, 10 or 11 systems specialists
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	TsAGI SR-5S
Wing Tip	TsAGI SR-5S
DIMENSIONS:
Length	188.00 ft (57.30 m)
Wingspan	177.33 ft (54.10 m) without refueling probe 167.50 ft (51.10 m) with refueling probe
Height	50.67 ft (15.50 m)
Wing Area	3,348.76 ft² (311.10 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	200,000 lb (90,720 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	364,970 lb (165,550 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	unknown
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four Kuznetsov NK-12MV turborpops each driving two AV-60H counter-rotating four-balded reverse-pitch propellers
Thrust	59,180 eshp (44,132 ekW)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 460 mph (740 km/h) at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	32,820 ft (10,000 m)
Range	unknown
Endurance	25 hr
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	none
Air-to-Air Missile	none
Air-to-Surface Missile	none
Bomb	none
Other	none
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Tu-126	Former civil Tu-114 aircraft modified with a large surveillance radar in a radome, processing equipment, and an in-flight refueling probe; about 12 converted
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Bangladesh War (India, 1971)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 291. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 885, Tupolev Tu-114 and Tu-126. Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 740, Tupolev Tu-114: Mother of 'Moss'.