Myasishchev M-4
Encyclopedia
The Myasishchev M-4 Molot , USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 37", NATO reporting name 'Bison'.) is a four-engined strategic bomber
designed by Vladimir Myasishchev
and manufactured by the Soviet Union
in the 1950s to provide a bomber capable of attacking targets in North America
. The Myasishchev design bureau
was formed to build such a bomber.
, on May Day
, 1954. However, it soon became clear that the bomber had an insufficient range to attack the United States
and still return to the Soviet Union. Only a few of the original production
M-4s were actually put into service.
To remedy this problem, the Myasishchev design bureau introduced the 3M, known to the West as the 'Bison-B', which was considerably more powerful than the previous version. This new model first flew in 1955
. Among other things, two of the five original gun barbettes were removed to lighten the aircraft.
(VVS) that wanted the 3M, but rather Naval Aviation
(AV-MF). Though it could still not bomb Washington, D.C.
, the 3M had a sufficient range to fulfill the need for a long-range maritime
reconnaissance
aircraft. In 1959, the 3M broke numerous world records; however, it was thought by the West
(and would continue to be thought so until 1961) that the 3M was the original M-4, meaning that the capability of the M-4 was vastly overestimated by Western intelligence agencies
.
In the early 1960s, the 'Bison-C', with a specialized search radar
, was introduced. By this time, many of the original M-4s had been converted to M-4-2 fuel
tankers for aerial refueling
. Later, 3Ms were converted to 3MS-2 and 3MN-2 tankers as well.
Neither the M-4 nor the 3M ever saw combat, and none were ever converted for low altitude attack, as many American B-52s were, nor were any ever exported to the Soviet Union's allies.
Production of the Bison aircraft stopped in 1963, by which time 93 of them had been built. The last aircraft, an M-4-2 fuel tanker, was withdrawn from service in 1994.
The three VM-T
heavy lift aircraft converted from 3MN-2 tankers, with very large loads carried piggy-back above the fuselage. The single vertical fin/rudder was replaced with two large rectangular fin/rudders at the tips of the horizontal stabilizers to improve control due to the turbulence caused by the cargo pod.
With the withdrawal of the Myasishchev bombers and tankers the vast majority of the retired airframes were broken up under the terms of the relevant arms limitation treaty. Four aircraft are known to survive:
Strategic bomber
A strategic bomber is a heavy bomber aircraft designed to drop large amounts of ordnance onto a distant target for the purposes of debilitating an enemy's capacity to wage war. Unlike tactical bombers, which are used in the battle zone to attack troops and military equipment, strategic bombers are...
designed by Vladimir Myasishchev
Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev
Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev was a Soviet aircraft designer, Major General of Engineering , Hero of Socialist Labor , Doctor of Technical Sciences , Honored Science Worker of the RSFSR ....
and manufactured by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the 1950s to provide a bomber capable of attacking targets in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The Myasishchev design bureau
Myasishchev
V. M. Myasishchev Experimental Design Bureau or OKB-23, founded in 1951 by Vladimir Myasishchev) was one of the chief Soviet aerospace design bureaus until its dissolution in 1960. Vladimir Myasishchev went on to head TsAGI...
was formed to build such a bomber.
Design and development
First flying soon after the first flight of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, the M-4 initially impressed Soviet officials. The M-4 was first displayed to the public in Red SquareRed Square
Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
, on May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
, 1954. However, it soon became clear that the bomber had an insufficient range to attack the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and still return to the Soviet Union. Only a few of the original production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
M-4s were actually put into service.
To remedy this problem, the Myasishchev design bureau introduced the 3M, known to the West as the 'Bison-B', which was considerably more powerful than the previous version. This new model first flew in 1955
1955 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1955:- Events :* The United Kingdoms first atomic bomber unit, the Royal Air Forces No. 138 Squadron, becomes operational, flying Vickers Valiants.-January:...
. Among other things, two of the five original gun barbettes were removed to lighten the aircraft.
Operational history
This time, it was not the Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
(VVS) that wanted the 3M, but rather Naval Aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation was a part of the Soviet Navy.- Origins :...
(AV-MF). Though it could still not bomb Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the 3M had a sufficient range to fulfill the need for a long-range maritime
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
aircraft. In 1959, the 3M broke numerous world records; however, it was thought by the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
(and would continue to be thought so until 1961) that the 3M was the original M-4, meaning that the capability of the M-4 was vastly overestimated by Western intelligence agencies
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
.
In the early 1960s, the 'Bison-C', with a specialized search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, was introduced. By this time, many of the original M-4s had been converted to M-4-2 fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
tankers for aerial refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
. Later, 3Ms were converted to 3MS-2 and 3MN-2 tankers as well.
Neither the M-4 nor the 3M ever saw combat, and none were ever converted for low altitude attack, as many American B-52s were, nor were any ever exported to the Soviet Union's allies.
The three VM-T
Myasishchev VM-T
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. Harper Collins, Glasgow, 1996. ISBN 0-00-470980-2-External links:* * * * *...
heavy lift aircraft converted from 3MN-2 tankers, with very large loads carried piggy-back above the fuselage. The single vertical fin/rudder was replaced with two large rectangular fin/rudders at the tips of the horizontal stabilizers to improve control due to the turbulence caused by the cargo pod.
With the withdrawal of the Myasishchev bombers and tankers the vast majority of the retired airframes were broken up under the terms of the relevant arms limitation treaty. Four aircraft are known to survive:
- 3MD '30 Red' (c/n 6302831) in the Central Russian Air force Museum at MoninoMoninoMonino is an urban locality in Shchyolkovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated east of Moscow. Population:...
- M-4 '60 Red' (c/n 0301804) in the Long Range AviationLong Range AviationLong Range Aviation was the branch of the Soviet Air Forces tasked with long-range bombardment of strategic targets with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, it was the counterpart to the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force....
museum at Dyagilevo AB, Ryazan - M-4 '63 Red' (c/n 5301518) at Ukrainka AirbaseUkrainka (air base)Ukrainka is one of Russia's largest strategic Long Range Aviation bases in the Far East. Located in Amur Oblast, Russia, 28 km north of Belogorsk, it is a major nuclear bomber base, with large tarmacs and nearly 40 revetments.In 1955, Ukrainka was one of only six Soviet bases capable of handling...
, Amur Oblast - 3MS-2 '14 Red' (c/n 7300805) at Engels Air Force Base
Variants
- Izdeliye M (Product M) - the in-house designation for the SDB, Project 25, M-4 aircraft.
- SDB(Strategicheskiy Dahl'niy Bombardirovshchik – strategic long-range bomber) - The government designation for the M-4 programme.
- [Tema Dvadtsat Pyat] Subject 25 - The VVSVVSVVS is a three letter acronym which may refer to:* Very Very Slightly Included, a way of describing the clarity of a diamond* Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, a syndrome of vulvodynia associated with chronic disease* V. V. S...
designation for the strategic bomber program.
- Myasishchev M-4 - The designation used for production aircraft. 35 built including two prototypes and a static test article. (NATO Air Standards Co-ordinating Committee codename Bison-A)
- Myasishchev M-4-2 - M-4 production aircraft converted to in-flight refueling tankers.(NATO Bison-A)
- Myasishchev M-6 - The OKB designation used for re-engined Myasischev 3M aircraft.(NATO Bison-A)
- Myasishchev 3M - The improved M-4 with Dobrynin VD-7 engines with higher thrust and better S.F.C. than the Mikulin AM-3A engines. The first prototype was converted from a M-4.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3M-5 - The improved M-4 with Dobrynin VD-7 engines with higher thrust and better S.F.C. than the Mikulin AM-3A engines, configured as a launch platform for the KSR-5 air to surface missile. One prototype aircraft converted from a 3MN-1 bomber, but further conversions not carried out due to the limited life remaining on candidate aircraft.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MD - Production cruise missile carrying aircraft for carrying the P-6,KSR or Kh-10 air to surface missiles, with only nine built in 1960 before the production line was shut-down and the Myasischev OKB dissolved.(NATO Bison-C)
- Myasishchev 3ME - A comprehensive avionics upgrade was tested on the sole 3ME, converted from a production 3M bomber (c/n8301101). New navigation and radar equipment and a completely revised fire sensing and suppression system were also fitted. The prototype was damaged beyond repair when the Myasischev M-50 prototype jumped its chocks during ground running of the engines, striking the 3ME killing one engineer on the 3ME.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MS-1(S:Staryye [dvigatel'] - old engines) - New production long-range bomber aircraft capable of accommodating the VD-7 engines but fitted with Mikulin RD-3M-500a, RD-3M or AM-3A engines due to a lack of flight ready VD-7's.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MS-2(S:Staryye [dvigatel'] - old engines) - New production in-flight refueling tanker aircraft capable of accommodating the VD-7 engines but fitted with Mikulin RD-3M-500a, RD-3M or AM-3A engies due to a lack of flight ready VD-7's. During the 1970s and 1980s the majority of surviving 3MS bombers were converted to 3MS-2 tankers.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MN-1(N:Novyye [dvigateli] - new engines) - The initial production version of the 3MN long-range bomber with de-rated VD-7 engines to improve reliability after compressor blade failures.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MN-2(N:Novyye [dvigateli] - new engines) - The initial production version of the 3MN in-flight refueling tanker with de-rated VD-7 engines to improve reliability after compressor blade failures.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MSR-1(S:Staryye [dvigateli] Rahdioapparatoora - old engines, avionics [upgrade]) - New production long-range bomber aircraft capable of accommodating the VD-7 engines but fitted with Mikulin RD-3M-500a, RD-3M or AM-3A engines due to a lack of flight ready VD-7's, and fitted with an up-graded avionics suite.(NATO Bison-B)
- Myasishchev 3MSN-1(N:Novyye [dvigateli] Rahdioapparatoora - new engines, avionics [upgrade]) - Several new production long-range bomber aircraft capable of accommodating the VD-7 engines but fitted with Mikulin RD-3M-500a, RD-3M or AM-3A engines due to a lack of flight ready VD-7's, and fitted with an up-graded avionics suite.(NATO Bison-B)
- [Tema Tridtsat Shestt] Subject 36 - The government designation for the re-engined M-4.(NATO Bison-B)
- VM-TMyasishchev VM-T|-See also:-Bibliography:*Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. Harper Collins, Glasgow, 1996. ISBN 0-00-470980-2-External links:* * * * *...
(Vladimir Myasischev-Trahnsportnyy) - Three 3MN-2 aircraft converted for oversize cargo flights with a large cargo pod supported on struts above the fuselage and Large rectangular fins attached to the tips of the tail plane. Notably used for transporting the BuranBuranBuran may refer to:* Buran , a Soviet space shuttle** Buran program, which developed the spacecraft* Buran eavesdropping device, invented by Léon Theremin, used by soviet intelligence* Buran cruise missile, a Soviet cruise missile...
shuttle and Energiya launch vehicle components before the Antonov An-225Antonov An-225The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest aircraft. The design, built in order to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan...
became available.
Projected variants
- Myasishchev 3M-A(Ahtomnyy - atomic) - A nuclear powered reconnaissance derivative using an indirect heat transfer reactor in the bomb-bay for nuclear gas turbines in the wing roots, with the crew housed in a windowless lead lined cockpit.
- Myasishchev 3M-M(Morskoy - marine) - A proposed flying boat with a boat hulled fuselage and floats under the wing-tips.
- Myasishchev 3M-R(Razvedchik - reconnaissance) - A proposed reconnaissance aircraft carrying high-speed reconnaissance cameras.
- Myasishchev 3M-K(Komleks - weapons system) - A proposed strategic missile carrying strike aircraft to carry the Kh-20 long-range cruise missile.
- Myasishchev 3MP - The 3MP was a projected alternative quick-change tanker/bomber, to support all AV-MF receiver aircraft, based on the 3MD, which was not proceeded with due to the cessation of 3MD production and closure of the Myasischev OKB.
- Myasishchev 3M-T(Toplivozaprahvshchik - refuelling tanker) - The 3M-T was an attempt to make a production convertible tanker/missile carrier version of the 3MD, for supporting the expected Myasischev M-52Myasishchev M-50-External links:* http://www.aviation.ru/Mya/#50* *...
supersonic bomber, Tu-95 and the remaining 3M bombers. No hardware was produced before the OKB was closed in September 1960.
Specifications (M-4)
See also
External links
- http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/m4-01.htm
- http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/bomber/m4/
- http://www.worldsairspace.com/m4.htm
- List of 'Type' codes and aircraft on aerospaceweb.org
- Museum Monino
- Walkaround 3DM from Monino Museum, Russia
- Walkaround #2 of 3DM from Monino Museum, Russia