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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As the remarkable Tu-114 civil airliner was withdrawn from Aeroflot service, about 12 were modified for use as airborne early warning aircraft for the Soviet Navy.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 Nevertheless, the type was withdrawn by about 1990 and replaced by the much more modern A-50.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
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HISTORY: | |
First Flight | 1967 |
Service Entry
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1971
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CREW: |
14 to 15: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, 10 or 11 systems specialists
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ESTIMATED COST:
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unknown
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AIRFOIL SECTIONS: | |
Wing Root | TsAGI SR-5S |
Wing Tip
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TsAGI SR-5S
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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
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not applicable
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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
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unknown
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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)
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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
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ARMAMENT: | |
Gun | none |
Stations | none |
Air-to-Air Missile | none |
Air-to-Surface Missile | none |
Bomb | none |
Other |
none
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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
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KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
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Bangladesh War (India, 1971)
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KNOWN OPERATORS:
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India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation) |
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