The Tu-126 is the Soviet counterpart to the Boeing E-3 Sentry and, like the American plane, has its airframe origins in a civil airliner. In the case of the Tu-126, the core of the plane is the airframe and massive turboprop powerplant of the Tu-114 airliner, itself a derivative of the Tu-95 bomber with a larger fuselage. Production of the Tu-114 totaled only some 30 aircraft, and these were taken out of Aeroflot service from 1971.

Over-fuselage rotodome

Development of the Tu-126 began in the mid-1960s, and the "Moss" began to enter service in

1971 with the antenna of its "Rat Jack" surveillance radar in a large rotodome added above the rear fuselage. Some 12 conversions were completed with in-flight refueling capability, and these have served the USSR well despite the limitations imposed on radar performance by factors such as interference from the four sets of contra-rotating propellers. The 10 surviving examples of the type are now being replaced by the considerably more effective Ilyushin Il-76 "Mainstay".

Principal version

Tu-126 "Moss" (Soviet airborne early warning plane).

Principal user

USSR.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss" 12-seat airborne early warning and command system plane. Engines: four 14,795-ehp (11,033-kW) Kuznetsov NK-l2MV turboprops.

Performance: maximum speed 528 mph (850 kin! h) at high altitude; initial climb rate not revealed; service ceiling 36,090 ft (11,000 in); range 7,800 miles (12,550 kin).

Weights: empty 231,481 lb (105,000 kg); maximum take-off 385,802 lb (175,000 kg). Dimensions: span 167 ft 7.75 in (51.10 in); length 188 ft 0 in (57.30 in); height 52 ft 8 in (16.05 in); wing area 3,348.8 sq ft (311.10 in2).

Armament: none.