The An-72 Coaler is designed as a Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft which can operate from small unprepared airfields. The An-72 was first named as An-32 and had propeller engines, but was later fitted with jet engines. The first prototype flew end of 1977, and the aircraft finally entered service in 1979.
The wings are high-mounted and back-tapered with blunt tips and a negative slant. Two turbofan engines are mounted in long pods on top of the wings, which makes this plane easily identifiable. The engines are placed on the forward edge of the wings to increase lift for STOL capability. To protect the wings, the jet exhausts are blown over titanium panels on the upper surface. Such a position of the engines also gives good protection against threats from the ground. The fuselage is circular with a round, solid nose and an upswept rear section. In the aft, there is a hinged loading ramp from which up to 7.5 tons can be airdropped, and there are folding side seats for 42 fully equipped paratroopers or 52 normal passengers. The An-74 is based on the An-72, but has improved avionics and radar together with an extended wingspan and an increased range. It was especially designed to operate in the polar regions where it can land on ice floes for resupply troops or rescue work. Similar aircrafts are the C-160 Transall and the G.222.