Antonov An 990 ~upd~

: Specialized for carrying and launching the Soviet Buran space shuttle.

Some sources confuse the "An-990" with the An-70-900 proposal (a stretched military transport with 8 propfans). That project was real but never left the CAD stage. However, the "An-70-900" is frequently misread as "An-990" in poor photocopies of Russian industry magazines from 1998. This is likely the true origin of the myth. antonov an 990

The name "990" is sometimes confused with the Convair 990 Coronado , a real-world American jet airliner from the early 1960s known for its high speed but limited commercial success. : Specialized for carrying and launching the Soviet

Enjoyed this article? Let us know in the comments: Would you prefer to see the An-225 rebuilt, or focus entirely on new, futuristic designs? However, the "An-70-900" is frequently misread as "An-990"

The An-990 was envisioned not just as a transport, but as a flying launchpad. There were discussions of the aircraft being capable of air-launching spacecraft or ballistic missiles from its cargo bay, a capability that would have turned the aircraft into a strategic deterrent platform.