Last Tuesday, a prototype of the MC-145B aircraft was shown for the first time at Warsaw Babice Airport. According to the Lotnictwo resource, the aircraft is designed for the American Special Operations Command.
It is based on the M28 Skytruck, which, in turn, is a modification of the Soviet twin-engine turboprop An-28, produced in Poland under license since the early 80s.
The winged vehicle is designed to perform various tasks: dropping parachutists, transporting cargo and evacuating the wounded, as well as hitting various ground targets.
A sighting optoelectronic system is installed in the bow. Additional electronic equipment can be placed under the fuselage.
The MC-145B is adapted for the use of various weapons, including those used on AH-64 Apache, AH-1Z Viper combat helicopters and MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper attack drones, as well as AGM-114 Hellfire guided missiles.
In addition, 130-kilogram GBU-39 adjustable aerial bombs are suspended on four underwing nodes.
It is stated about the possibility of using high-precision ammunition AGM-176 Griffin, GBU-69, etc.
It is expected that the certification process of the aircraft will be completed by mid-2022, and serial production at the Polish aviation plant PZL will begin in 2023-2024.
Alexey Brusilov
