The Tupolev Tu-330 is a modern medium-transport aircraft from the Soviet aircraft manufacturer Tupolev. The aircraft is intended to replace the aging An-12 tactical airlift fleet, filling a niche between the Il-112 an Il-76; it is similar in size class to the Antonov An-70.
The Tu-330 has a swept high-mounted wing design with two high-bypass ratio PS-90A engines mounted below the wings. An optional powerplant system has also been proposed, using NK-93 engines that can operate on LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuel. The aircraft is also designed for commonality with the Tu-204/Tu-214 civilian airliner series, in order to simplify production and minimize costs of manufacturing, maintenance and parts.
Variants[]
- Tu-330: Basic civilian cargo variant.
- Tu-330K (Tu-338): A proposed liquid natural gas-fueled variant with a Samara NK-94 engine.
- Tu-330P: Firefighting variant.
- Tu-330PS: Search and rescue variant.
- Tu-330R: Communication relay aircraft.
- Tu-330RL: A variant designed for long-range reconnaissance flights.
- Tu-330SE: Sanitary and evacuation aircraft.
- Tu-330TZ: Aerial refueling tanker.
- Tu-330VT: Strategic/Tactical airlifter.
