Ukraine's aerial assets safeguarded in Poland: A strategic move
Satellite images show that Ukrainian military aircraft are stationed at Polish airports. These are transport aircraft evacuated from Ukraine due to concerns about their potential destruction. Among them is a unique construction – the only example in the world of the An-70 short take-off and landing transport aircraft.
During the Russian attack on Ukraine, some Ukrainian military aircraft – primarily transport aircraft – were evacuated to Poland. Among the aircraft that could not be evacuated was the world's largest transporter, the An-225 Mriya. This record-breaking aircraft was destroyed at the Hostomel airport at the start of the war.
Publicly available (Google Earth) satellite images reveal that surviving transport aircraft belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine were evacuated to Poland, and some of these aircraft are stationed at the military airport in Dęblin. The images show that there are seven heavy Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft and one unique An-70 stationed there.
These aircraft are in continuous service and perform flights to various European countries, among others. As Adam Świerkowski from Defence 24 explains: “Polish airports have become a key base for Ukrainian heavy transport aviation (including military), which, thanks to them, can efficiently perform many tasks, both for civilian clients and its own army.”
According to the expert, the aircraft deliver essential operational parts to Ukraine and also serve to transport military vehicles, which, after being withdrawn from combat, are repaired overseas, among other places.
An-70 – STOL transport aircraft
Among the Ukrainian transport aircraft stationed in Poland, the An-70 stands out. This is a unique machine, existing – like the destroyed An-225 Mriya – in only one exemplar. Ukraine built it in cooperation with Russia. One of the two prototypes was destroyed, and despite orders, serial production was not launched.
The An-70 is a medium transport aircraft with STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capability. The aircraft is about 41 metres long, has a wingspan of 44 metres, and is powered by four Progress D-27 engines. With an empty weight of 59,000 kilograms, the aircraft can carry up to 42,000 kilograms of cargo, 260 wounded on stretchers, or 300 paratroopers.
For take-off – instead of multi-kilometre runways – it requires only 600 to 800 metres of unpaved runway. For comparison, the Airbus A400M, comparable in size with an empty weight of 63,000 kilograms, carries 33,000 kilograms of cargo and requires a runway twice as long for take-off.
