Antonov An-30M Meteozashchita "Clank"

Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1975 · transport aircraft

The An-30M Meteozashchita is a weather modification variant of the Antonov An-30 survey aircraft, equipped with cloud-seeding systems to suppress hail and induce or dissipate precipitation.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	24.26 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Weather modification variant of An-30 with cloud-seeding equipment
High-wing twin-turboprop with distinctive glazed survey nose
Meteozashchita means 'weather protection' — used for hail suppression

Visually similar to the standard An-30 with its glazed observation nose and high-wing twin-turboprop layout; identified in service by cloud-seeding dispenser pods beneath the wings and fuselage.

Specifications

The Antonov An-30M Meteozashchita has a length of 24.26 m (80 ft).
It has a wingspan of 29.2 m (96 ft).
Its maximum speed is 540 km/h (336 mph).
Typical crew: 7.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed for Soviet agricultural and civil protection purposes, the An-30M carried dispensers for silver iodide or other cloud-seeding agents, used to break up hailstorms before they could damage crops. The programme reflected Soviet investment in weather modification technology.

Variants

The Meteozashchita is one of several mission-specific An-30 variants; it shares the airframe with the standard aerial survey An-30 and the radiation-sampling An-30R.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Soviet civil aviation and research organisations, primarily in agricultural regions of the USSR such as the Caucasus and Central Asia where hail damage was a significant problem.

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