Russian An-30 reconnaissance aircraft "spotted" over Syria: only four of them
Date: 2024-10-14 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
A video of the flight of an An-30 reconnaissance aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces in the skies over Syria has appeared on social networks. The footage was filmed near the city of Idlib, west of Aleppo.
This aircraft was carrying out another flight amid reports of a possible offensive by the Syrian opposition in the direction of Aleppo. The video shows that Russia continues to use a rare type of reconnaissance aircraft, such as the An-30, whose flight in modern conditions is a surprise.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have only four An-30 aircraft in service, while there are about fifty Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft. During the summer of 2024, there were multiple reports of "dangerous approaches" of Western aircraft to Russian An-30s during flights over Syria, but only now has this aircraft been captured on video.
According to Defense Express, the peculiarity of the An-30 is that it is an aircraft for aerial photography, which requires a direct flight over the target, which is only possible in the absence of air defense systems. That is why the Russians use these aircraft only in Syrian airspace, where there are no probable threats to them.
Main characteristics of the An-30:
- fuselage length: 24.26 m, wingspan: 29.02 m;
- maximum takeoff weight: 23 tons, weight of photographic equipment: 650 kg;
- maximum speed: 540 km / h;
- flight range: 1240 km;
- crew: 6 people + 1 operator.
