in the USSR until 1973. It was used in a variety of roles from search and rescue operations to equipment transportation. Its most significant use was seen during the Soviet-Afghan War. Among Soviet Soldiers, it was infamously known that the plane would take off from Afghanistan to Tashkent with "Cargo 200" or coffins with the bodies of deceased soldiers. To this regard the aircraft was nicknamed "Black Tulip" (Russian: «Чёрный тюльпан»). Variants In addition to its basic cargo transport role, the An-12 was adapted as a platform for a wide variety of specialist tasks and some 30 different variants were produced. Upgrades included increased take-off weights and additional fuel capacity. The upgraded variant An-12BP became the standard tactical transport of the Soviet and other air forces. In 2019, it was announced at the military "Army-2019" Forum that Russia started working on an armed ground-attack and close air support variant of the An-12, similar to the AC-130. In 2021, it was announced that the gunship will not be based on the An-12 after all, as it did not meet the requirements for a "flying gunner." Operators Currently the An-12 is popular with cargo operators, especially those in the CIS, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Civil operators On 12 January 2009, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a temporary ban of the An-12 from flying over their airspace following runway incursions at Sharjah International Airport and the GCAA has advised operators to stop using the aircraft. The ban was made permanent in Feb 2010. Current Air Armenia Ruby Star Airways Air One (Mexico) ATRAN Cargo Airlines SAT Airlines Air People International Aerovis Airlines Antonov Airlines CAVOK Air Motor Sich Airlines Ukraine Air Alliance Volare Airlines SRX, (still operated by Avialeasing) Former Alada Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Air Sofia CAAC Airlines; see also Shaanxi Y8 Egyptair Darta Air Guinee Ghana Airways The sole An-12 was delivered in October 1961. Withdrawn from use in 1962 and returned to the Soviet Union in 1963. Iraqi Airways Interisland Airlines LOT Polish Airlines Avial Aviation United International Airlines Azza Transport Badr Airlines Juba Air Cargo Military operators Current People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola Chadian Air Force Ethiopian Air Force Myanmar Air Force Nigerian Air Force – 12 An-12s in service Russian Air Force Russian Naval Aviation Sudanese Air Force Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces Former Algerian Air Force Armenian Air Force The Afghan Air