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- Soviet and Russian Special Mission Aircraft
In the years after World War II, aircraft optimized for various kinds of special missions began assuming ever-greater importance in the inventories of the world's leading air forces. The Soviet Union was no exception - numerous special mission versions of Soviet military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were developed and fielded, and the process is continuing in modern Russia. Some of them have seen action in various armed conflicts, including the Afghan War, the Chechen Wars and, most recently, the Syrian War.
The need to control friendly forces on the move and manage airborne air defense assets efficiently resulted in the development of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C ) aircraft. The first of these in the Soviet inventory was the early 1960s vintage Tupolev Tu- 126 which was replaced in the 1980s by the Ilyushin/Beriyev A-50. The latter has been constantly upgraded but is now due for replacement by the latest A-100.
An equally important role is filled by airborne command posts - mostly based on airliners, including the Ilyushin Il-22 army-level ABC P, the Tu-214PU and the Il-80 national emergency airborne command post (the Russian equivalent of the Boeing E-4 'doomsday aircraft'). The latter may be replaced by a specialised derivative of the Il-96-400 airliner. Rotary-wing aircraft in this class were also developed, such as the Mil' Mi-8VzPU and Mi- 6VKP/Mi-22.
Another important class is reconnaissance aircraft of various categories--photo reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, nuclear/biological/chemical reconnaissance, radiation intelligence (RINT). These were represented by ELINT versions of bombers (including the Tu-22 and Tu-22M), airliners and transports (ELINT versions of the Antonov An-12 and An-26 transports, the Il-20 derivative of the Il-18 airliner), RINT versions of the An-12 and the An-24 airliner etc.
A separate chapter covers electronic countermeasures aircraft, such as specialized versions of the Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers and An-12 transport, the latest Il-22PP, the Army Aviation's many EC M versions of the Mi-8 helicopter (including the latest Mi-8MTPR) and the heavy Mi-10PP.
A singularly important class is in-flight refueling tankers supporting the operations of both heavy aircraft (notably strategic bombers) and tactical jets. These include tanker versions of the Tupolev Tu-16 and Myasishchev M-4/3MS series bombers and the Il-78, including the latest Il-78M-90.
Another category which assumed considerable importance is search and rescue aircraft, such as the naval An-12PS equipped to carry a paradroppable lifeboat and the latest Beriyev Be-200PS amphibian able to pick up survivors at the scene of a maritime disaster.
The book is illustrated with numerous previously unpublished photos, line drawings and many color side views.
Pages: 336
Size: 8.3 X 11.7 (inches)
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Hikoki Publications
ISBN: 9781800352483
Product Code: HK248
Reviews
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The Aviation Enthusiast Book Club
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(Posted on 8/31/2022)"When it's a Hikoki, it's unmissable. And that is certainly the case here! The book itself is presented to the usual unbeatable Hikoki standard and is a joy to consume."
Dmitriy Komissarov
Dmitriy Komissarov was born in 1968 in Moscow and graduated from the Moscow State Linguistics University in 1992. He has worked as a translator ever since, with the most of his work associated with his interest in aviation. Dmitriy Komissarov has authored two books and translated or co-authored more than 50 others. He has also written numerous magazine features in two languages on Soviet and Russian aviation.
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Yefim Gordon
Yefim Gordon was born in 1950 in Vilnius, Lithuania (then part of the Soviet Union) and graduated from the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute in 1972. He has been researching Soviet and Russian aviation history for more than 40 years and has collected one of the world's largest photograph and document archives on the subject.
A professional aviation journalist and photographer since 1989 Yefim Gordon has published hundreds of features and photographs in Soviet and Russian aviation which are published in seven countries. Currently Yefim is Executive Director of the Moscow-based aviation publishing house Polygon Press Ltd and is contactable at yefimair@gmail.com.