A-40 ALBATROS
Two protoypes of the A-40 have flown, but there is as of yet no sign that a batch of 20 twin-turbofan amphibians ordered by Russia for its naval-aviation force will actually be built. The A-40 is intended to replace the Ilyushin Il-38 May and Beriev Be-12 Mail. The A-40 is optimised for long-range ASW, with a nose-mounted refuelling probe mounted above a large radome and provision for a retractable magnetic-anomaly detector. Twin 118kN Soloviev D-30s are mounted on booms extending from the fuselage and wing inboard trailing-edge, well above the wing, to prevent water ingestion during take-off and landing. An upgraded variant of the A-50 AEW, the A-500, is being developed.
Source: Flight International
