An-74

Also known as

Antonov An-74
AN-74
An-74 Coaler
Coaler
An-72A Arctic
Cheburashka
An-74T
An-74T-100
An-74T-200A
An-74TK-200
An-74TK-300

The An-74 is an Antonov cold-weather modification of the An-72 family, adapted for ice patrol, polar research support, and cargo or personnel transport from austere airstrips. Antonov records Kharkiv production from 1985 to 2004, while conflict evidence documents An-74 losses at Hostomel during Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and at Khartoum International Airport during the 2023 Sudan War.

An-74, Cold-weather STOL jet transport aircraft, Support Equipment

Image source: Wikimedia Commons Antonov An-74 image

Role in Conflicts

Side: Ukraine

Antonov Airlines An-74T UR-74010 was destroyed on the ground during Russian forces' February 2022 assault on the Hostomel airfield.

Role details

Side: Sudanese Armed Forces

Government of Sudan An-74-200 ST-PRD was destroyed at Khartoum International Airport during SAF-RSF fighting in April 2023.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union / Ukraine
Built by: Antonov Design Bureau
Type: Cold-weather STOL jet transport aircraft
Service note: Late Cold War An-72 derivative for Arctic, Antarctic, and austere-field transport support
Designer: Antonov Design Bureau
Designed: 1974-1983
Produced: 1985-2004
Number built: 62 aircraft, according to Antonov
Developed from: Antonov An-72

Specifications

Crew and mission stations: Cockpit crew plus navigator and hydrologist stations with bubble windows for visual ice surveillance
Engines: Two D-36 series 2A turbofans on the baseline An-74T freighter; later advanced An-74 models used D-36 series 3A engines
Length: 28.01 m
Wingspan: 31.89 m
Height: 8.65 m
Wing area: 102 sq m
Cruise speed: 540-560 km/h
Operational range: 4,320-4,600 km
Operational ceiling: 10,100 m
Baseline cargo payload: Up to 7.5 tonnes on the An-74T freighter profile
An-74T-100/T-200A cargo payload: Up to 10 tonnes with a stretched 10.5 m cargo cabin
Cargo handling: Rear mechanized cargo door/ramp plus an onboard cargo-handling device for loads up to 2,500 kg
Austere-field operation: Designed for hard-surface, unpaved, gravel, snow, and ice runways with autonomous loading support
An-74TK-300 capacity: Convertible regional cargo-passenger version for 52 passengers or 10 tonnes of cargo
Production: 62 aircraft built at Kharkiv Aircraft Manufacturing Company from 1985 to 2004

An-72 Family Relationship And Transport Role

The An-74 keeps the An-72 family's short-field transport lineage while specializing the design for polar support, cargo carriage, and later cargo-passenger conversions. Direct conflict evidence for this entry is limited to documented losses rather than confirmed combat sorties.

Parent design

Modification of the An-72 light STOL jet transport, with the early An-72A Arctic designation leading into the An-74 branch.

Polar role

Ice patrol and transport support for scientific research in Arctic and Antarctic regions, aided by cockpit visibility and bubble-window observation stations.

Freighter equipment

Archived Antonov material describes a rear mechanized cargo door, ramp, onboard cargo-handling device, and rough-field operation from hard, unpaved, gravel, snow, or ice strips.

Production base

Kharkiv Aircraft Manufacturing Company, with Antonov listing 62 aircraft built from 1985 to 2004.

Variants

The An-74 designation covers the polar An-72A branch, freighter and cargo-passenger models, and the later TK-300 deep-modification line.

Variant	Configuration	Designation notes
An-72	Parent STOL transport family	Antonov describes the An-74 as a modification of the An-72 light transport aircraft. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-72A Arctic	Baseline Arctic and Antarctic support transport	Antonov describes the An-74 as a modification of the An-72 for ice patrol and transport missions supporting scientific research operations in the Central Arctic Basin and Antarctic. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-74-200	Kharkiv-built production variant	Antonov records the first An-74-200 aircraft built at Kharkiv in November 1992, with 18 aircraft of the version manufactured. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-74TK-100	Cargo-passenger convertible variant	Antonov says the An-74TK-100 cargo-passenger model was presented in Kyiv in December 1994 and that four aircraft of this version were built. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-74T	Special-purpose freighter	Antonov's archived freighter profile describes the An-74T as a cargo aircraft for polar support and medium-haul cargo carriage, with rough-field operation and a rear mechanized cargo door. Sources: Antonov AN-74T archived profile
An-74T-100	Four-crew freighter	The archived Antonov profile says the An-74T-100 omits the radio-operator station, uses a stretched 10.5 m cargo cabin, and carries up to 10 tonnes of cargo. Sources: Antonov AN-74T archived profile
An-74T-200	Transport variant	Antonov records completion of the first An-74T-200 in April 1997 and states that eight examples were delivered to Iran. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-74T-200A	Two-crew freighter	Antonov's archived freighter profile describes the An-74T-200A as a two-pilot version with a modernized integrated flight and navigation system. Sources: Antonov AN-74T archived profile
An-74TK-200	Cargo-passenger convertible variant	Antonov records the first An-74TK-200 flight at Kharkiv on August 15, 1995. Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
An-74TK-300	Later passenger/cargo branch	Antonov's archived passenger-aircraft profile describes the An-74TK-300 as a regional convertible cargo-passenger aircraft with engines moved under a modernized wing. Sources: Antonov AN-74TK-300 archived profile

Timeline

An-74 Key Events

Jun 26, 1974
Arctic and Antarctic aircraft development authorized
Antonov's chronology records the Soviet development order for an aircraft intended for Arctic and Antarctic conditions.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Jun 30, 1977
An-72A Arctic aircraft authorized
Antonov records a Soviet resolution on constructing the An-72A Arctic aircraft at the Antonov Design Bureau.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Dec 4, 1980
Kharkiv serial-production preparation begins
Antonov records the Soviet aviation-industry order that started preparation for An-72 and An-72A serial manufacture at Kharkiv.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Sep 29, 1983
An-74 prototype first flight
The An-74 prototype first flew on September 29, 1983, with Sergii Gorbik as pilot in command.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Mar 1, 1986
SP-27 ice-floe evacuation
Antonov says an An-74 evacuated Dmytro Shparo's ski team from the split ice block of the SP-27 North Pole station, landing and taking off from an ice floe.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
May 1, 1988
Distance record set
Antonov records an An-74 crew setting a C-11 subcategory world distance record of 6,341.97 km.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Jan 3, 1989
First production An-74 flies
Antonov records the first production An-74, serial number 06-09, flying at Kharkiv.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Aug 2, 1991
An-74 type certificate issued
Antonov records issuance of An-74 Type Certificate No. 13-74 under USSR Gosavianadzor authority.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Apr 30, 1997
Payload-altitude records set
Antonov records six C-11 subcategory altitude-with-payload records by an An-74 crew, including lifting 15.256 tonnes to 2,000 m.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Mar 6, 2004
SP-32 evacuation support
Antonov records an An-74TK-100 participating in the evacuation of SP-32 North Pole drifting-station personnel in distress.
Sources: Antonov AN-74 history
Feb 24, 2022
An-74T UR-74010 destroyed at Hostomel
Antonov and aviation reporting documented an Antonov Airlines An-74T destroyed during Russian hostile action against the Hostomel airfield.
Sources: Interfax-Ukraine Antonov Hostomel losses, Aviation.Direct An-74T loss
Apr 17, 2023
Sudanese An-74-200 destroyed at Khartoum
Aviation Safety Network records Government of Sudan An-74-200 ST-PRD as destroyed at Khartoum International Airport during SAF-RSF fighting.
Sources: Aviation Safety Network Sudan An-74 loss