In April2022, CCTV-10 aired a two part Innovation and Progress report, showing the development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) cargo plane, Feihong FH-98. Part 1:
Part 2:
“The exercise met our expected objective. It is very significant for our unmanned logistics chain in future warfare.”-Bi Guangyuan, executive director in charge of recent testing, June 2019
In June 2019, China’s National Defense University of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, put to the final tests a new robot cargo aircraft.
Photo via CGTN, 23JUN2019.
The aircraft is unmistakable, it is the only type of its kind, a bi-plane cargo/agricultural aircraft, designed and built in the Soviet Union just after The Great Patriotic War (World War Two). In 1957, during the non-declared Cold War, Communist China got a license to build the Antonov An-2 Maize (NATO reporting name Colt) as the Yunshu (Yunshuji, later becoming Shifei) Y-5, but this modern version of the Maize has no crew. The new crewless version of the Maize is called Feihong-98 (FH-98).
In Zhangye, northwestern Gansu Province, the robot An-2/FH-98 had to complete three final tests; fast load 5-hundred kilograms of cargo, a short range airdrop mission, and a long range air drop mission. The tests were declared successful, and China’s PLA now has a viable robot cargo aircraft.
Another CCTV report:
CGTN video report of first test of Feihong-98 (FH-98) cargo UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), October 2018:
To many people, the Antonov 2 is something that harkens back to the First World War’s biplanes, but it was developed after the Second World War (first flight 31AUG1947), soldiered on through the undeclared Cold War and continues flying for militaries on both sides of the Ukraine Crisis.
A proud Oleg Antonov stands between the crew that flew the An-2 on its first flight. Photo via Antonov Company.
The crop duster was a top loader. Photo via Antonov Company.
Photo via Antonov Company.
Round them doggies up! There’s almost as many ‘Colts’ as there are cows! Photo via Antonov Company.
Silly music video by Antonov Company:
Photo via Antonov Company.
Since 1948, the ‘Maize’ has been produced in several dozens of factories in dozens of countries, with at least six official modifications resulting in dozens of silly-vilian (civilian) and military variants. The NATO reporting name is Colt. Colt = An-2, 3, 4, 6, plus many other variants. In China it is known as Y-5, and they even built a pilotless/robot version called Feihong 98.
An-2CX, photo via Antonov Company.
Even Santa Claus uses the Maize/Colt to transport his reindeer! Photo via Antonov Company.
An-6 fire fighter, photo via Antonov Company.
This odd looking Maize/Colt is the An-6 Meteo, high altitude weather tracker. Notice the cockpit in the tail, and the supercharged radial engine. Photo via Antonov Company.
Mount McCauley, Antarctica, 1973. Photo via John Sheraton.
A Warsaw Pact Polska (Poland) built PZL Maize/Colt floatplane, known as An-2M or An-2W in Poland (in the Soviet Union it is An-2V). What is realy interesting is that the NATO info published with this photo (in 1978) actually stated that the floatplane version was “rather rare”.
Sometime during the Cold War, in Warsaw Pact Deutsche Demokratische Republik (aka East Germany) fighter pilots were required to learn how to jump from a Colt.
In Warsaw Pact Československo (Czech-o-Slovakia), silly-vilian (civilian) parachute clubs were the rage, and the Colt was a major player. Photo made sometime in 1979.
SlovAir operated Colts were used by silly-vilian parachute clubs in Warsaw Pact Czech-o-Slovakia. Photo made sometime in 1980.
Czech-o-Slovaks loved parachuting so much they even jumped during Winter. Photo from Winter of 1979/80.
A Soviet agriculture Maize gets dusted. Photos by V. Jukl, sometime in 1980.
Ready for dusting. Photo by V. Jukl, sometime in 1980.
Antonov Company video, sometime towards the end of the undeclared Cold War, a mini-documentary was made about O. K. Antonov’s love of designing aircraft (in his own words), including his Maize:
Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union). The Western NATO (North Atlantic treaty Organization) must not have considered the Colt a significant aircraft, I have several books concerning Soviet aircraft, published in the United States and United Kingdom in the 1970s, only two slightly mention the An-2 and only one has a photo of it.
Last days of a former Warsaw Pact-East German Colt. In 1990, East & West Germany officially became one, but many East German aircraft continued to carry their Cold War insignia. East German An-2s were quietly retired.
Colt cargo aircraft on display U.S. Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Zachary Cacicia, 15NOV2014.
Video report from 2016, about conversion of old Russian Colt/Maize to U.S. turbo-prop engines (made by Honeywell) and redesigned wings:
The composite winged TVS-2DT, Rostec photo.
Video report from 2016, about the new build TVS-2DT, an attempt to modernize the An-2:
Antonov Company video, An-2-100 turbo-prop sets lift record, April 2017:
Antonov Company video, celebrating 70 years of An-2, September 2017:
This Russian civilian Maize crashed in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, December 2017. It was loaded with 13 crew and passengers, three of which did not survive.
CGTN video report of Feihong-98 (FH-98) cargo UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), October 2018:
In 2018, Russia’s Rostec State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology, announced production of a new ‘An-2’, called the TVS-2DTS. First deliveries were expected in 2021, but oh that darn Pandemic lockdown.
Composite wing and fuselage TVS-2DTS, Rostec photo 2018.
The difference between the TVS-2DT and the TVS-2DTS is that the 2DTS has all composite wings and fuselage, whereas the 2DT has composite wings.
A Colt makes an ‘after hours’ drop to U.S. and Latvian Special Forces units during a wargame. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Garrett L. Dipuma, 22NOV2020.
Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 05MAR2021.
Serbian paratroops make their first jump from a Colt, February 2022. Photo via Serbian Defence Ministry.
NATO Latvian An-2, notice the large muffler on the exhaust. Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.
Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.
Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.
Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.
Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.
A privately owned An-2 performs during the Sivrihisar Airshow in NATO Turkey, 17SEP2022. Photo by Mustafa Kaya via Xinhua News.
A child of California seems excited to in the cockpit of an old Colt/Maize, part of the air show on Edwards Air Force Base. USAF photo by Lisa Dixon, 15OCT2022.
On 14NOV2022, a Cold War era Cuban An-2 crashed while taking off from Florida, U.S. It was later discovered that the same Antonov had arrived in Florida the prior month, possibly the pilot was trying to defect to the U.S.:
A bigger Antonov, this time in use by the United States?:
NATO has deployed its Response Force for the first time. Keep in mind that members of NATO are officially called “member states” indicating that NATO is not just a ‘defensive’ military pact, but is a pseudo-government!
NATO press conference, 04MAR2022, in which it is clear NATO is not going to fight for Ukraine, saying “We are not part of this conflict, and we have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine.”:
NATO video by Elodie Romain, 03MAR2022, Ukrainian Antonov 124 lands in NATO Romania loaded with NATO French AMX-10RC wheeled tanks and supplies, while French troops arrive on an French Armed Forces Airbus built airliner:
Photo via French Armed Forces, 03MAR2022.
On 03MAR2022, NATO France reported that for the first time C-130J cargo planes crewed by both French and NATO German crews began flying missions to NATO Romania.
NATO France’s Response Force deployments.
On 03MAR2022, Germany posted a video hyping-up its part in the NATO Response Force:
U.S. Army photo of Stock-2 Site in Mannheim, Germany, 01MAR2022.
On 01MAR2022, the NATO U.S. Army reported that for the first time they have activated their Army Prepositioned Stock-2 sites (open-area warehouses of military vehicles and weapons), at several locations in Western Europe, to equip the masses of troops being sent in from NATO United States!
U.S. Army video by Gertrud Zach, vehicles shipped out of a Stock-2 site arrive on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, 02MAR2022:
NATO’s Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) based on NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, NATO Germany, now patrolling Eastern Europe, video released 01MAR2022, includes interviews with AWACS crew who believe they are preventing aggression “towards NATO”:
French Armed Forces photo.
At the beginning of March, NATO France deployed some of its Rafale jets to help patrol over NATO Poland.
At the end of February, NATO United Kingdom began ‘forward deploying’ its Royal Welsh armor units in NATO Germany into NATO Estonia. Royal Air Force jets based in Cyprus are now patrolling over NATO Poland and NATO Romania. The Royal Navy is sending ships from NATO U.K. to patrol the Baltic Sea.
NATO video showing NATO French C-130J and Ukrainian An-124 landing in NATO Romanian with VAB armored cars, troops and equipment, 28FEB2022:
NATO video, 27FEB2022, NATO Norway delivers CV90 tanks to NATO Lithuania, using the An-124 Ruslan:
25FEB2022 NATO video explaining their Response Force:
NATO video from 11FEB2022, a look at some of the NATO troops in NATO Romania:
Don’t forget the extra troops Biden has already sent!
U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Keith Reed the Third, 17JUL1997.
On 24MAR1992, the Treaty on Open Skies was created as a way of being sure that countries that have military weapons (military-grade arms) control agreements are complying. However, it wouldn’t be until 01JAN2002 that Open Skies actually went into effect, with 34 countries signed-on (but only 20 ratified). Interestingly, the first OC-135B was ready to launch in June 1993!
Newly independent Ukrainian Air Force personnel get their photo taken in front of their Open Skies Antonov An-30. Photo by Technical Sergeant Brad Fallin, 14APR1997.
Russian Open Skies Antonov An-30, 25SEP2009. Photo by Alan Lebeda.
On 22NOV2020, the United States officially withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, so far the only country to do so. It’s interesting that the many countries who did not sign-on to Open Skies, like nuclear armed China, condemned the U.S. withdrawal.
Photo by Kelly White. 23APR2020, U.S. Air Force OC-135B (6-12670) stripped and awaiting what would become its final Open Skies livery.
But it is more complicated than U.S. President Donald Trump being a mean old ‘orange man’, it’s about other treaty signators not complying, and the fact that updating the now ‘ancient’ observation technology is just too cost prohibitive for taxpayers.
A naked OC-135B anticipates its final Open Skies paint job on Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Photo by Kelly White, 23APR2020.
Here’s a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) video, 22MAY2020, in which NATO accuses Russia (Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) of violating the Open Skies agreement:
Photo by Charles Haymond. An OC-135B Open Skies (converted WC-135 weather research) aircraft takes off from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska,14SEP2018.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Heather Salazar. Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii (Military Air Forces of Russia) Open Skies Tupolev Tu-154M RF-85655, lands at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 14AUG2019.
From 1992-93, three WC-135B aircraft were modified for the Open Skies mission, re-designated OC-135B. For some reason, after only a few years based at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska, the first OC-135B was sent straight to ‘moth-balls’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in 1997.
Photo by Charles J. Haymond, 14SEP2018.
This OC-135B conducted observation flights over Haiti, after the 7.0 earthquake in 2010. Photo by Senior Airman Perry Aston, 16JAN2010.
Despite the OC-135Bs being used on other non-Open Skies observations, such as natural disasters, according to some reports the remaining two OC-135Bs are now available for sale as a result of the U.S. exit from Open Skies: “We’ve started liquidating the equipment. Other countries can come purchase or just take the airframes. They are really old and cost-prohibitive for us to maintain. We don’t have a use for them anymore.”
Photo by Staff Sergeant John Hillier. 01FEB2018, a Commonwealth of Nations (aka British Empire) Royal Canadian Air Force C-130J arrives at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Missouri, joining units from France and Czech Republic for Open Skies training with the Missouri Air National Guard.
What many people might not know is that the Open Skies operation required the use of old school film technology. In this 2015 U.S. Air Force video report, by John Harrington, it’s revealed that the old technology was getting difficult to maintain due to no new parts:
Here is an October 2016 USAF video (by John Harrington) explaining how the imagery captured by the OC-135Bs are processed:
Photo by Delanie Stafford. Snow removal from Open Skies OC-135B, 03FEB2015, Offutt AFB.
Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Russian examine a U.S. OC-135B, 27FEB2007.
Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Italian C-130 with SAMSON observation pod.
Realize that the United States and Russia have always conducted observation flights of each other, Open Skies was just an attempt to make it more militarily non-threatening.
There were rumors that the two remaining Open Skies OC-13Bs were up for sale in 2020, however, the aircraft were given a fresh ‘Open Skies’ paint job and sent to the ‘boneyard’ in Arizona. USAF video by David Farley, 13MAY2021:
OC-135B Open Skies on Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 09JUN2021. USAF photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller.
Since the end of March 2020, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been conducting a taxpayer funded global ‘Project Air Bridge’ in response to pathogen CoViD-19.
FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 29APR2020.
China Cargo’s Boeing 777F arrives at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 29APR2020.
Two UH-60 Black Hawks bound for Afghanistan about to be eaten by a Russian An-124 in Huntsville, Alabama, 26APR2019.
USA photo by Richard Bumgardner, 26APR2019.
USA photo by Richard Bumgardner, 26APR2019.
USA photo by Richard Bumgardner, 26APR2019.
USA photo by Richard Bumgardner, 26APR2019.
U.S. Air Force video, by Staff Sergeant Bethany La Ville, November 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu relief in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (the Ukrainian operated An-124 was contracted by U.S. Air Force):
Video, October 2017, Russian operated An-124 delivers disaster relief equipment to Puerto Rico, paid for by U.S. taxpayers:
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Brooke Deiters, 01AUG2016.
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, August 2016.
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Brooke Deiters, 02AUG2016.
Russian operated An-124 takes-off from U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, August 2016.
USA photo by Staff Sergeant Richard Andrade, 22OCT2013.
October 2013, Russian operated An-124 delivers U.S. taxpayer funded Russian made Mil-17V-5 Hip helicopter to the Afghan military, in Kabul.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Kevin Jones, 09JUL2013.
A large U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion inside the belly of the An-124 beast, July 2013.
USMC video, by Corporal Jeffrey Scarmazzi, 11JUL2013, U.S. Marines on Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, load UH-1Y Venoms into a contracted An-124:
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Natalie M. Rostran, 17JUN2013.
U.S. Marines CH-46E Sea Knight off-load at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, June 2013.
USA photo by Sergeant D. Brennan, 07FEB2013.
February 2013, U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter is fed into the An-124 Condor at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.
At least three OH-58Ds. USA photo by Sergeant D. Brennan, 07FEB2013.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal Wright, 30JUN2012.
Russian operated An-124 gets an MRAP suppository at Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina, June 2012.
USAF photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal Wright, 30JUN2012.
Now a satellite up-link suppository, all destined for U.S. Forces Korea.
USMC photo by Mitch Moore, 05OCT2011.
Joint Operating Base Bastion, Afghanistan, An-124 delivers mobile medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, October 2011.
USAF photo by Sergeant Anderson J. Grant, 21MAY2011.
The U.S. Air Force even showed-off the Ruslan at a public air show on Shaw AFB, May 2011.
USAF photo by Captain Erick Saks, 06MAY2011.
May 2011, An-124 delivers Rough Terrain Container Handler (RTCH) to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.
Photo by Jerome Bishop, 01DEC2005.
Pope Air Force Base , North Carolina, December 2005. Russian contracted An-124 eats a UH-60 Black Hawk, for delivery to Egypt.
At least four UH-60s. Photo by Jerome Bishop, 01DEC2005.
“We don’t do many jobs like this. It’s a great opportunity for our crew to carry some cargo for MCAS Iwakuni.”-Sergei Nenashev, radio operator of the Russian operated An-124
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Jacob A. Farbo.
08 August 2016/08 августа 2016 (15:14 UTC-07 Tango 01), 18 Mordad 1395/04 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/06 Bing-Shen 4714
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Jacob A. Farbo, 02AUG2016.
USMC photo by Corporal Nathan Wicks, 02AUG2016.
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Jacob A. Farbo, 02AUG2016.
USMC photo by Corporal Nathan Wicks, 02AUG2016.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Nathan Wicks.
If Russia is the ‘bad guy’ to the United States, then why are U.S. tax dollars being paid to Russian companies to make deliveries to U.S. military personnel?
A large Antonov 124 Ruslan transport plane delivered a KC-130J simulator to the USMC at Air Station Iwakuni in Japan.
USMC photo by Corporal Nathan Wicks, 02AUG2016.
It’s part of Obama’s plan to dominate East Asia (‘Pivot to Asia’ ‘Pacific Pathways’): “This simulator delivery is part of a larger project of standing up the Operation Training Complex. When completed, it will be the largest flight simulator training complex in the Marine Corps and nearly the largest in Asia, providing training to our Navy and Marine Corps aviators.”-Tyler VandenBerg, engineer on MCAS Iwakuni
“The mujihadeen killed a CIA officer on Thursday while he was in Aden province after tracking him and determining he was cooperating with the Sanaa government.”-Yemen Freedom Fighter’s text message
U.S. Defense Department officials admitted the United States is actively helping the pro-U.S. government of Yemen kill the people of Yemen!!!
This after anti-U.S. rebels identified, tracked down and attacked a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer! Pro-Freedom demonstrators say the CIA agent was killed, the pro-U.S. Yemen government says he was not killed.
Also, Yemen government security officials admitted that a U.S. ‘security’ team, which was training Yemen forces in how to put down their own people, had been shot at by rebels.
Until now the United States has denied having personnel on the ground in Yemen. The U.S. and United Kingdom, have been supporting the repressive Yemen government for several decades.
At the end of February 2012, U.S. President Obama announce a two pronged plan to support the Yemen government. In June 2011, Obama announced $200 million in taxpayer funded aid for the despotic government of Yemen. That followed the defection of hundreds of Yemen’s military personnel (Yemen Republican Guards) to the rebels (video showed military personnel protesting alongside the rebels).
The people of Yemen have been openly fighting their pro-U.S. government since March 2011. That’s when the now former president ordered troops to shoot to kill peaceful protestors (told you peaceful protest doesn’t work).
On March 4, 2012, a military cargo aircraft exploded on an airbase near Yemen’s capitol city of Sana’a: “An Antonov aircraft blew up in mysterious circumstances while it was on the tarmac at Dulaimi air force base.”-airport employee
Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.
It’s interesting how our government, and main stream media, is so rabid about going after Iran’s nuclear power ambitions. And now, in the back yard of the United States, Venezuela has signed a deal with Russia to build a nuclear reactor. I’m not seeing any rabid war mongering coming from our government, or media, about it. Mmmm. Here’s what U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley had to say about it; “It is certainly a right of any country to pursue civilian nuclear energy, but with that right comes responsibilities,”. Not as tough sounding as with Iran.
Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, is traveling the world. His first stop, Russia, where he gave a speech denouncing the United States, and expressing sorrow for the fall of the Soviet Union. The nuclear plant deal was part of a larger economic deal with Russia. Another part of the deal involves the sale of Venezuela’s stake in four oil refineries that are co-owned by a German company. Other petroleum deals with Russia involve the sale of Venezuelan assets co-owned by British Petroleum (BP, remember those guys). Gee, that doesn’t sound like a communist thing to do? Chavez stated; “I’m a socialist, but also a good merchant.”
Chavez also stopped in Ukraine, and had a tour of the famous Antonov aircraft factory.
ANTONOV 2 BIPLANE, THE MOST PRACTICAL AIRCRAFT EVER?
CHINA’S TYPE 59D, UPDATED COLD WAR T-54/55, TO LIVE-ON AS A ROBOT TANK?
CHINA TURNS TO ROBOTS & DRONES TO SUPPLY ITS MILITARY!
THAT’S NO F-L-I-R POD, THAT’S A ROBOT FLYING THAT HELICOPTER! OR, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO A-A-C-U-S?
