A state-run Russian news site is reporting that the country has ambitions to build a huge, supersonic cargo plane capable of transporting tanks to the field in a matter of hours. While there's plenty of reason to be skeptical that transporting such heavy loads at high speeds is even feasible, let alone realistic, Russia's military is reportedly giving itself roughly the next decade to figure it out.
Russia's RT reports that the heavy transport craft, dubbed the PAK TA (Perspective Airborne Complex of Transport Aviation), could fly at supersonic speeds of up to 2,000 km/h (1,243 mph), carry up to 200 tons (181 tonnes) and have a range of 7,000 km (4,350 mi). The program could call for the construction of a fleet of 80 of the new craft to be built by 2024, giving the Russian military the capability to deliver 400 Armata heavy tanks or 900 more lightly armored vehicles to a battlefield in quick fashion.
The specs are sourced to an apparent anonymous leaker who claims to have attended a closed-door meeting with Russian military leaders and passed on details to the Russian language site, Expert Online.
According to the website Russian Aviation, Ilyushin Aviation Complex – an aircraft engineering outfit dating back to the early years of the Soviet Union – is handling the project. CEO Viktor Livanov is quoted as saying "Today it is just a project that may be implemented by 2030." He added that the exact specifications are still subject to negotiations and that the Russian Ministry of Defense is just one of several potential customers.
Whatever the real status of the PAK TA is at the moment and whatever their reasons, someone certainly seems to want the wider world to know that such an ambitious concept is being discussed.
Among the reasons for skepticism is the fact that the purported specs involve more than doubling the speed of most military transport craft up to this point in history, and doing so while carrying an unprecedented payload – save perhaps for another Russian giant, the Antonov An-225, that once carried a 250-ton (227-tonne) load.
Presumably, the costs of design, construction and fuel for such a craft would also be pretty ridiculous at a time when Russia's economy is getting hammered. But it's never wise to totally rain on a propaganda parade. Anything is possible, even if not very practical.
The concept video below, from Aleksey Komarov, Customer and Technical Manager at the Volga-Dnepr Group, shows what the future of heavy transport could look like.
Sources: RT, Expert Online, Russian Aviation
The video looks like graduate project of some talented 3D-art student ("diplom" mean "graduate project" in Russian). Nothing is possible here. Russia has no long runways for such monsters. The only long enough runway there is a 4500 meters long "Site 251," built for project Buran, but it located in Kazakhstan. Also, I doubt this wings will survive breaking sonic barrier. The plane chassis also does not looks capable for 200 tonnes load.
Remembering the Russia Today channel is only a tool of the anti-American propaganda, this news is only a fruit of the inflamed imagination.
Russia has awesome aviation and space engineers, but Poo-tin has to raise flags in parts of the world where he shouldn't and does not give a crap about his own people, and their potential. I feel their pain.
Even if it is a "fruit of an inflamed imagination", this is what makes the possible into reality. This is a cool-looking machine that has a stealthy air to its design. If there are few runways to deploy it in, then how does the Antonov-225 manage? Besides, it doesn't take that much to build extra-long runways.
If any of you believe that Vladimir Putin doesn't care about the Russian people, you've been hoodwinked by American propaganda, and there's lots more of that.
You would not have a problem with runway length at the base end; that's a purely civil engineering problem, you need it, you build it. The field delivery would pose problems, parachuting 100+ tonne loads doesn't appear sensible especially if it lands on your own forces.
Hey ho, back to the drawing board!
The Caspian Sea Monster wasn't an "aircraft"- it was a ground effect vehicle, an "ekranoplan".
It was never feasible for actual service.
In many ways it was like Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose"- it came, it was seen and it was put aside.
The difference was that the actual name of Hughes' craft was given to the most successful military cargo design ever produced- the C-130 "Hercules".