--- title: "Russia Appears To Be Preparing Its Ancient An-2 Biplanes For War In Ukraine" description: "The Russian Aerospace Forces’ An-2 Colt biplane, first flown in 1947, could well be preparing for action over Ukraine." date: "2022-03-02" modified: "2022-03-02" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/44532/russia-appears-to-be-preparing-its-ancient-an-2-biplanes-for-war-in-ukraine" categories: - "Air" - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Transports" - "Ukraine" tags: - "airborne assault" - "An-124" - "AN-2" - "Antonov" - "Biplane" - "Colt" - "Il-76" - "Kyiv" - "North Korea" - "paratroops" - "Seshcha" - "Ukraine" - "VDV" --- # Russia Appears To Be Preparing Its Ancient An-2 Biplanes For War In Ukraine ![]() *www.twz.com* While the air war in the first week of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine has been dominated by apparent [cruise missile strikes launched from bombers](), extensive [rotary-wing activity](), and multiple, unconfirmed reports of [air combat]() involving Russian and Ukrainian jets, one surprising participant looks to be waiting in the wings. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ (VKS) [An-2 Colt biplane](), a rugged, agricultural-looking design first flown in 1947, could well be getting ready for action over Ukraine, although the exact role it might fulfill remains puzzling. Although designed primarily for crop-dusting, the An-2 proved to be a highly adaptable aircraft for both civilian and military operators. Even today it remains in frontline service both for various types of [special operations work](), including in an armed configuration. More commonly, however, it’s used as a training aircraft, especially for paratroopers. Aerial imagery and accompanying analysis from the satellite imagery and space technology firm Maxar Technologies indicates that a considerable number of An-2s have now been moved to Seshcha Air Base in Bryansk Oblast, a region in western Russia, which shares a border to northern Ukraine. ![message-editor%2F1646234106489-antonov\_an-2\_7727434808.jpg]() *A pair of Russian Aerospace Forces An-2 Colts., *Artem Katranzhi/Wikimedia Commons** Maxar satellite photos since February 28, which have been obtained by *The Aviationist* [website](), record 42 An-2s at the base, which is normally home to the 566th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (566 VTAP), operating the VKS fleet of giant [An-124 Condor]() heavy transport aircraft. The regiment also flies a squadron of [Il-76 Candid]() airlifters from the same base. The number of An-2s now there is significant, considering a total of around 60 thought to be in VKS service today. ![message-editor%2F1646232755824-antonov\_an-124\_42671166662.jpg]() *A VKS An-124 Condor heavy transport aircraft, home-based at Seshcha., *Dmitry Terekhov/Wikimedia Commons** The Colts can now also be seen arranged on the airbase’s unique layout, which includes a 10,000-foot runway that bisects the circular aircraft parking area. ![message-editor%2F1646233023202-screenshot2022-03-02at3.55.05pm.png]() *Seshcha Air Base in Bryansk Oblast., *GOOGLE EARTH** The latest situation report from Maxar, also shared by *The Aviationist*, posits that the An-2s “have likely been converted to drones and could be used as decoys to simulate helicopter or UAV formations to draw out Ukraine’s air defenses.” This could also be related to the reported appearance of undisclosed electronic warfare aircraft that arrived at Seshcha in the middle of last month. Those aircraft could potentially be used together with the An-2s as part of a wider assault on Ukraine’s ground-based air defense network which has remained relatively intact against great odds. That, however, is not confirmed and we don’t know for sure that Russia plans to use the An-2s in this way. It’s also been reported that the VKS has been conducting sorties with its forward-deployed An-2s in proximity to the Ukrainian border, perhaps within the last month. In a February 7 post, blogger Dylan Malyasov [pointed to footage]() of nine An-2s in formation “in Russia’s border areas with Ukraine.” https://twitter.com/_/status/1490589562472652801 Malyasov also suggested that the veteran aircraft would be used for “simulating a breakthrough of a helicopter group or attack drones,” basically serving as decoys to not only overwhelm Ukrainian defenses but potentially also to reveal the location of radar emitters that could then be hit by anti-radiation weapons, attacked with standoff munitions, or jammed with countermeasures. Indeed, it seems it was this theory from Malyasov that led to the findings in the Maxar situation report. However, we don’t know for sure that the An-2s in the video were examples from Seshcha. Either way, that report was apparently picked up by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who also raised the prospect of Russia using the same 42 An-2s in an unmanned configuration: https://twitter.com/_/status/1498842471731716100 Of course, using An-2s for this type of mission is not new. Indeed, it’s possible it could closely replicate the tactics employed by Azerbaijan during its war with Armenia in the region of [Nagorno-Karabakh]() in 2020. https://twitter.com/_/status/1476279394272481288 During that conflict, Azerbaijan rigged up An-2s with [basic modifications]() to the flight controls. The biplanes were then flown by pilots and put on a course that would take them over the relevant Armenian positions. The pilot would then lock the controls and bail out, leaving it to fly pilotless, triggering the defenses before its ultimate demise, either shot down, running out of fuel, or otherwise crashing. ***Footage reportedly showing an Azerbaijani An-2 shot down by Armenian air defenses:*** https://youtube.com/embed/4EbkgTBk050 It’s possible that there is already a precedent for Russia employing unmanned aircraft to probe or perhaps try and alert Ukrainian air defenses. Earlier today, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a series of photos showing a Russian-made [ENICS E95M]() pulse-jet target drone, the implication being it had been brought down, or at least recovered, by Ukrainian forces. https://twitter.com/_/status/1499052327600283648 One role for this type of drone in the current conflict could be as some form of decoy or otherwise to reveal the presence of certain air defense systems. At this stage, it’s hard to say, but there is no record of this type of target drone in Ukrainian service. https://twitter.com/_/status/1499064166937772039 As well as this apparent decoy drone, Russia could potentially convert a number of other drones for the role, as well. It also has other means of disrupting Ukrainian air defense systems, including [tactical aircraft]() configured for defense suppression, [standoff jamming platforms](), and other [electronic warfare means](). Taken together, this suggests that the An-2 might not be envisaged for this specific mission. However, there’s at least one other possibility of how the An-2 could contribute to the ongoing Russian offensive. It’s important to note that the type’s main role with the Russian Armed Forces nowadays is parachute training on behalf of the Airborne Troops, or VDV. Previously operated by the VDV itself, An-2s are now part of the VKS, which has several squadrons of the type, each with around 10 aircraft, at various different bases — but not normally at Seshcha. This role reflects the fact that the An-2 is an ideal paratrooper platform — it’s even used for jump training by [some NATO air forces](). Moreover, paratrooping is a role that could also be undertaken in wartime. ***Russian VKS paratroopers train with an An-2:*** https://youtube.com/embed/oRFyQpUEJM8 Indeed, depending on the progress of the Russian forces on the ground, the ability to deliver paratroopers relatively discretely from the air, while flying at low level, could be of particular use in assaults on key objectives, or encirclements. Notably, Seshcha is only around 250 miles away from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. ![message-editor%2F1646233536500-screenshot2022-03-02at4.01.57pm.png]() *The general location of Seshcha Air Base., *GOOGLE EARTH** At the same time, the An-2s short takeoff and rough-field capabilities mean that it could also be used for insertion of troops close to other targets, whether to capture them or conduct sabotage, forward reconnaissance, or other covert missions. In the past, we have [looked specifically]() at the An-2’s wartime role with the North Korean military, which is widely expected to include delivering special forces troops directed against key targets in the South via low-level infiltration at night. ![message-editor%2F1646233578530-northkorea.jpeg]() *North Korean An-2s drop paratroopers at low level during an exercise., *NORTH KOREA STATE MEDIA** Such is the An-2’s potential for causing havoc in this way that South Korea has built up [a fleet of these aircraft]() which are used as aggressors to train how best to defend against these tricky targets — after all, this is an aircraft for which the manual has no stall speed. Flying low and slow, the An-2 would present a tricky target for Ukrainian air defenses, although there is no evidence that Russian Colts are armed with freefall bombs and rockets like their North Korean counterparts. More importantly, the fabric-winged An-2 has a small radar cross-section for its size, which, coupled with its slow speed, makes it hard for enemy fighters to spot it using their radars. In fact, some air defense radars would be set to filter out such targets entirely. Meanwhile, its low-level capabilities, which can be implemented at night, mean traditional surface-to-air missile systems can struggle to detect and engage these aircraft. https://youtube.com/embed/A3tpV9vUTPo Talking to *The War Zone*, Justin Bronk, a research fellow for airpower at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) judged it unlikely that the Russian An-2s would be used in some kind of defense-suppression scenario, but did point out that “they might be used to help alleviate some of the worst supply shortages at key points in the Russian advance caused by the ground forces appalling logistics failures.” Again, the type’s short- and rough-field performance would be very useful for this kind of work. So, there are at least three different mission sets that the An-2 could feasibly undertake on behalf of Russia as its war in Ukraine grinds on. For now, we simply have no idea what the Russian military has planned for its forward-deployed Colts and it remains a possibility that these aircraft have moved to Seshcha for entirely unrelated reasons. Considering they are normally based on different airfields across Russia, that would seem less likely, however, pointing to the very real possibility that the Kremlin might commit the An-2 to battle a full 75 years after its first flight. *Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()