Tupolev Tu-126

infobox Aircraft
name =Tu-126
type = Airborne Early Warning and Control
manufacturer =Tupolev OKB

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caption = Tu-126
designer =
first flight =
introduced =
retired = 1984 (USSR)
status = Retired
primary user = Soviet Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Tupolev Tu-114
variants with their own articles =

The Tupolev Tu-126 (NATO reporting name Moss) is a turboprop-powered Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft designed by the Tupolev design bureau.

Design and development

In 1958 the Tupolev Design Bureau was ordered to design an AEW&C aircraft. After trying to fit the projected radar instrumentation in a Tu-95 and a Tu-116, the decision was made to use the Tupolev Tu-114 with its wider fuselage instead. This solved all the problems with cooling and operator space that existed with the narrower Tu-95 and Tu-116 fuselage. To adhere to the flight range requirements, the plane was fitted with an air-to-air refuelling receiver.

Operational history

The Tu-126 was used by the Soviet Air Force, until being replaced by the Beriev A-50. The Tu-126 was also leased by India in conflicts with Pakistan. The last Tu-126 was retired in 1984.

Operators

;USSR
* Soviet Air Force
* Soviet Anti-Air Defence

pecifications (Tu-126)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 Gunston 1995, p. 434.]
crew=12 (plus full spare crew)
capacity=
length main=55.0 m without rear ECM fairing and less IFR probe, 57.9 m with rear ECM fairing and IFR probe
span main=51.4 m
span alt=168 ft 7⅝ in
height main=15.5 mTaylor 1988, p. 267.]
height alt= 52 ft 8 in
area main=311.1 m²
area alt=3,348 ft²
empty weight main=103,000 kg
empty weight alt=227,000 lb
loaded weight main=171,000 kg
loaded weight alt=377,000 lb
payload main=
payload alt=
normal takeoff weight=
normal takeoff weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=

number of props=4
engine (prop)=Kuznetsov NK-12MV
type of prop=turboprops driving contra-rotating props
power main=11,033 kW
power alt=14,795 hp

max speed main=790 km/h
max speed alt= 426 kt, 491 mph
cruise speed main= 650-700 km/h
cruise speed alt= 281 kt, 323 mph
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=7,000 km
range alt=3,780 NM, 4,350 mi
ceiling main=10,700 m
ceiling alt=35,100 ft
climb rate main= m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main=550 kg/m²
loading alt=113 lb/ft²
power/mass main=0.26 kW/kg
power/mass alt=0.16 hp/lb

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Tupolev Tu-95
* Tupolev Tu-114
* Tupolev Tu-142

similar aircraft=
* EC-121 Warning Star
* E-3 Sentry

sequence=

lists=

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Gunston, Bill. "The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875 - 1995." London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
* Taylor, John W.R., ed. "Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89". Coulsden, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.

External links

* [http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat_cid_192.html Tu-114 in Museum of Civilian Aviation, Ulyanovsk, Russia]