The An-30 is an Antonov An-24-derived aerial survey aircraft built around a glazed navigator's nose, raised cockpit, and camera hatches for mapping and reconnaissance. Antonov records Kyiv production in the 1970s, while direct conflict evidence places An-30B aircraft in Ukrainian reconnaissance flights over Donbas in 2014 and Soviet reconnaissance missions in Afghanistan in 1985.
A Ukrainian An-30B was photographing the Sloviansk area on June 6, 2014, when it was hit by a portable surface-to-air missile and crashed near Pryshyb; Aviation Safety Network also records the aircraft as a Ukraine Air Force An-30B lost near Slavyansk after ground fire.
Role detailsA Soviet An-30B was returning from a reconnaissance mission south of the Panjshir Valley on March 11, 1985, when a Strela shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile hit the left engine near Kabul and the aircraft crashed at Bagram.
The An-30 adapts the An-24 airframe for aerial survey work rather than troop or cargo carriage. The most visible changes are a glazed forward navigator's compartment, a raised cockpit, sealed camera hatches in the lower fuselage, and mission equipment intended to keep mapping runs repeatable.
Antonov describes five sealed camera hatches and a wide-field navigator's position for aerial survey operations.
Antonov says installed cameras could support topographic-map photography from 1:3,000 to 1:200,000 scale.
With special equipment installed, Antonov lists mineral prospecting, ice patrol, and fish-school survey roles.
The An-30 family began as the An-24FK aerial-survey conversion and later split into civil survey, military reconnaissance, and specialist monitoring conversions.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| An-24FK | Prototype aerial-survey conversion | Antonov identifies the AN-24FK as the construction designation authorized before the An-30 entered series production. Sources: Antonov AN-30 history |
| An-30B | Military survey and reconnaissance version | The directly documented Ukrainian 2014 and Soviet 1985 aircraft losses both involved An-30B airframes in military reconnaissance or survey contexts. Sources: Donetsk RSA An-30B Sloviansk, BAAA An-30B Bagram crash |
| An-30R | Radiation, chemical, and bacteriological survey aircraft | Antonov's chronology records conversion of an An-30 into the An-30R radiation, chemical, and bacteriological survey version in 1984. Sources: Antonov AN-30 history |
| An-30IKI | Remote-sensing testbed | Antonov records a 1981 conversion into the An-30IKI flying testbed for remote sensing of the Earth's surface. Sources: Antonov AN-30 history |
Antonov dates the Soviet Council of Ministers construction decision for the AN-24FK, later associated with the An-30 aerial survey aircraft, to July 6, 1964.
Sources: Antonov AN-30 history
Antonov's history page records the first An-30 flight on August 25, 1967.
Sources: Antonov AN-30 history
Antonov says An-30 series production began at the Kyiv Aviation Plant in 1971.
Sources: Antonov AN-30 history
Antonov records an April 20, 1974 Soviet civil aviation order introducing the An-30 into service.
Sources: Antonov AN-30 history
Ukrainian regional and aviation-safety sources document the loss of a Ukrainian An-30B during a reconnaissance mission over the Sloviansk area.
Sources: Donetsk RSA An-30B Sloviansk, ASN An-30B Slavyansk accident
