Cheburashka in the military

The An-72P version of Cheburashka was designed to serve with the Soviet armed forces. It first appeared at the 1992 airshow at Zhukovskii. A total of eight aircraft was ordered, and three entered service with a Russian Border Guards unit based on the Pacific coast during July 1992. On the first operational mission Cheburashka found a Japanese fishing boat illegally operating in Russian territorial waters.

Operational aircraft wear a smart three-tone camouflage, and are armed with GSh-23L 23mm twin-barrelled cannon with 250 rounds of ammunition in the starboard undercarriage fairing, and underwing UV-32M rocket pods. Four 100-kg bombs can be carried on an internal hoist and dropped through the rear ramp. Also, ordnance can include a range of anti-ship missiles, torpedos and depth charges.

An-72P features an advanced inertial navigation system, linked to on-board cameras which allow it to photograph target ships and record their exact position with great accuracy. SFP-2A flares are carried for night photography. Linked to the autopilot, the navigation system can also automatically fly a wide variety of search patterns, and can be used to calculate the speed and course of Cheburashka's targets. An-72P's sensor fit includes A-86P lateral and oblique cameras for daytime use, and UA-47 vertical nightime cameras. A TV system is fitted beneath the port undercarriage fairing. The cameras are housed under the tail, alongside the photoflash ejection system.

For maritime missions, flight crew consists of five, with navigator and radio operator stationed by blister windows at rear of flight deck. The pressurized fuselage of An-72A is retained, and up to 40 folding passenger seats can be accomodated. Alternatively, 22 fully equipped paratroopers or 16 stretched patients + a medical attendant can be carried.

The An-72P has an endurance in excess of five hours with a cruising speed of between 295 and 350 km/h at an altitude of 1000 m. A typical 8-hour maritime mission could survey an area of 120x140 km with the aircraft flying from the center of the search area outwards, covering a swatch of 20 km.

An-71 (coming soon)

Data for An-71:
Crew: 6, engine: 2 x D-436K turbofans, 7500kg + 1 x RD-38A, 2900kg, wingspan: 31.89m, length: 23.50m, height: 9.20m, max speed: 650kph, cruise speed: 530kph, ceiling: 10800m

		CHEBURASHKA IN THE MILITARY
C O N T E N T S : ABOUT CHEBURASHKA THE FAMILY IN THE MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS THE HEART OF CHEBURASHKA PHOTO GALLERIES 3-VIEW DRAWING INSIDE OF CHEBURASHKA VIEW GUESTBOOK SIGN GUESTBOOK REFERENCES LINKS		The An-72P version of Cheburashka was designed to serve with the Soviet armed forces. It first appeared at the 1992 airshow at Zhukovskii. A total of eight aircraft was ordered, and three entered service with a Russian Border Guards unit based on the Pacific coast during July 1992. On the first operational mission Cheburashka found a Japanese fishing boat illegally operating in Russian territorial waters. Operational aircraft wear a smart three-tone camouflage, and are armed with GSh-23L 23mm twin-barrelled cannon with 250 rounds of ammunition in the starboard undercarriage fairing, and underwing UV-32M rocket pods. Four 100-kg bombs can be carried on an internal hoist and dropped through the rear ramp. Also, ordnance can include a range of anti-ship missiles, torpedos and depth charges. An-72P features an advanced inertial navigation system, linked to on-board cameras which allow it to photograph target ships and record their exact position with great accuracy. SFP-2A flares are carried for night photography. Linked to the autopilot, the navigation system can also automatically fly a wide variety of search patterns, and can be used to calculate the speed and course of Cheburashka's targets. An-72P's sensor fit includes A-86P lateral and oblique cameras for daytime use, and UA-47 vertical nightime cameras. A TV system is fitted beneath the port undercarriage fairing. The cameras are housed under the tail, alongside the photoflash ejection system. For maritime missions, flight crew consists of five, with navigator and radio operator stationed by blister windows at rear of flight deck. The pressurized fuselage of An-72A is retained, and up to 40 folding passenger seats can be accomodated. Alternatively, 22 fully equipped paratroopers or 16 stretched patients + a medical attendant can be carried. The An-72P has an endurance in excess of five hours with a cruising speed of between 295 and 350 km/h at an altitude of 1000 m. A typical 8-hour maritime mission could survey an area of 120x140 km with the aircraft flying from the center of the search area outwards, covering a swatch of 20 km. An-71 (coming soon) Data for An-71: Crew: 6, engine: 2 x D-436K turbofans, 7500kg + 1 x RD-38A, 2900kg, wingspan: 31.89m, length: 23.50m, height: 9.20m, max speed: 650kph, cruise speed: 530kph, ceiling: 10800m