The An-12 Soviet military transport aircraft (or 'Cub' according to NATO classification) was produced at the end of the1950s under the guidance of O.K. Antonov.
From the very beginning of its long service the intended principal mission of this aircraft was transportation; however, as the years passed, its role in the Soviet Air Force changed repeatedly due to the fact that this aircraft was capable of performing so many roles not originally envisaged.
The An-12PP built in 1970 was one of the most interesting (and at the same time the most secret) modifications.
During this period air defense systems were very dominant and the role of an air force during the era of the Cold War had somewhat decreased due to the threat of major losses of flight crew in the opening phases of potential conflict. The rapid development of air-to-air missiles was also a negative factor, especially after the introduction of missiles with homing warheads.
In these circumstances the Council of Ministers and the USSR Ministry of Defense issued a government order for the production of a compact (for that time) system for radio interference which could be installed in the aircraft which would perform the task right above the area of action.
Officially declaring a peaceful policy, the Soviet Union assumed that any likely conflict would be outside the borders of the USSR.
The aircraft most suitable for fitting such equipment in was the An-12. In 1968 a special electronics suite was installed in an experimental An-12B aircraft. It consisted of automatic stations generating spot jamming, as well as active and passive electronic radar countermeasures which would disable the adversary's air defense system and anti-aircraft missile guiding system.
Apart from those mentioned above, the aircraft was equipped with special systems for crew protection in case of possible use of weapons of mass destruction (including biological ones).
The test flights were successful and shortly afterwards 27 standard An-12B and An-12BK transports were modified to An-12PP specifications.
In 1971 an An-12PP was modified again: the aircraft was further equipped with the 'Lilac' system of group defense, installed in external containers. This modification received the name An-12BK-PPS. The rapid development of electronic systems demanded constant upgrading of the special equipment. In 1974 the An-12PP was substituted by the An-12BK-PPS, the improved version. Automatic equipment for infra-red interference was installed on this type.
The An-12BK-PPS has long been one of the least known Soviet aircraft types. Their service was very limited; maybe their only 'real' fighting experience was gained during the Yom Kippur Arab-Israeli war of 1973 when the aircraft flew with Syrian markings, with Soviet crew.
The An-12BK-PPS (it received the NATO code Cub-C) was not exported to allied countries, with one exception - the Indian Air Force received 4 aircraft of this type.
The An-12BK-PPS was extensively used in service until the end of the 1980s. The type mostly served along the USSR's borders during military training. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the An-12BK-PPS remained in service only in the Russian Air Force. As of 2021, several machines are still in service today.
This is the very good 1/72 Roden kit of this obscure variant of the iconic Antonov giant. Roden kits are not shake-and-bake, requiring some time and patience, but all went good in the end.
Should you wish to read the full build review, please visit my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/viet/russian/pen12.htm
Happy modeling!
Nicely done Spiros @fiveten. Thanks for sharing
Thanks my friend @yann!
Great looking build! She looks like a beast, even in 1/72
Thanks my friend @gwskat!
Interesting plane and great work, Spiros. This is the first one of these that I’ve ever seen built.
Thanks my friend @j-healy!
Well done Spiros, interesting aircraft as well an interesting history lesson concerning this subject.
Thanks my friend @tom-bebout!
Amazing build, Spiros @fiveten.
Your informative article guiding this interesting plane is nice to read as well.
Thanks my friend @johnb!
I too, had no idea of this variant, thanks to modeling I now do!
I'm not into modern planes but this large bird looks very nice!
Thanks my friend @lis!
Nice work Spiros ! Great to learn about more Warsaw Pact transport planes. I guess this is the soviet equivalent of the C-130 in some ways.
The long slender wings may indicate a bird for altitude and distance and not a Great Tactical flier ?
Thanks my friend @bernardbedeur!
I agree with you for the wings shape. Kind of reminding the Liberator wings.
Super job Spiros - great to see!
Thanks my friend @davem!
Spiros@fiveten: awesome build! I would have never guessed one could achieve this level of excellence with a Roden kit as I find them not all that easy. Thanks for your informative write up over at MM. It does Indeed have that C-130/Liberator look.
Thanks for all kind words my friend @eb801!
"Used" to the Herc, it was really interesting to observe those wing looks!
You are really good at presenting obscure subjects! This is a great build, and informative article to go with it.
Thanks my friend @gkittinger!
Glad you liked it!
You've convinced me Spiros, you're a 'super-builder'!
As I went over the MM post, I couldn't help but think what you have next up your sleeve.
Also, nice photo work on this big guy.
Thanks my friend @georgeswork!
Your kind words make me feel really proud!
Spiros, this is a really nice build. Like you said in your MM article, it is a big model and it is no shake and bake kit. And it came out looking great, nice job.
Thanks my friend @v1pro!
It is rare to see one of these kits assembled. Well done Spiros!
Thanks my friend @pikofix!
Excellent build of an obscure (for model world) plane.
Thanks my friend @dbdlee!
It is an interesting modeling subject and I hope to see more of them built in the future.
Loving this entry @fiveten!
Thanks my friend @michel -verschuere!
Another great one Spiros, You build some interesting subjects, nice work! @fiveten.
Thanks my friend @roofrat!
I'll join the chorus in saying that is a sweet build. There are several civil versions of the AN-12 that are just as interesting as your Gray version. I really liked reading the back round story on this aircraft too. Russian aircraft always seem to take a back seat to a lot of modelers interests in the west. Its good to see a Roden kit that is not modeled often too.
Two thumbs up Spiros.
Thanks my friend @stephen-w-towle!
Russian planes are really interesting modeling wise.
Wow Spiros ! , this is great your work and skill gets better and better, really interesting subject as well .
N.
Thanks my friend @neil-foster!
Looks good Spiros, well done.
Thanks my friend @kalamazoo!
Yet another “model” posting, Spiros, excellent write-up, great photographs, and a lovely looking model. Definitely liked.
Thanks my friend @chinesegeorge!
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
A decent and interesting model of the not much seen An-12.
Thanks my friend @de4ever!
Friend Spiros, congratulations for this amazing work. Very huge plane and model.
Thanks my friend @boblucio! It was a good kit and I had a great time building it!