Myasishchev M-4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-4

The Myasishchev M-4 Molot (Russian: ????? (Hammer), 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 Long Range Aviation bomber capable of attacking targets in
North America. The Myasishchev design bureau was formed to build such a bomber.

First flying soon after the first flight of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, the
M-4 was first displayed to the public in Red Square, on May Day, 1954. The
aircraft was a surprise to the United States, which had not known that the
Soviets had built a jet bomber. 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.

In July 1955 American observers saw 28 Bisons in two groups during a Soviet air
show. The United States government believed that the bomber was in mass
production, and the Central Intelligence Agency estimated that 800 would be
available by 1960. The display was a hoax; the first group of ten repeated the
flyby with eight more. The classified estimates led, however, to American
politicians warning of a "bomber gap".


Role
Strategic bomber

Manufacturer
Myasishchev

Designer
Vladimir Myasishchev

First flight
1953 (M-4/2M)
1956 (M-6/3M)

Introduction
1956 (M-4/2M)
1958 (M-6/3M)

Retired
1994

Status
retired

Primary users
Soviet Air Force
Soviet Navy
Russian Air Force

Produced
93

Number built
2 prototypes, 91 production aircraft

Variants
Myasishchev VM-T

This time, it was not the Soviet Air Force (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 patrol
aircraft. In 1959, the 3M broke numerous world records. However, it was thought
by the West (and would continue to be thought 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 were 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.

Specifications (M-4)

General characteristics
Crew: 8
Length: 47.20 m (154 ft 10 in )
Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 7 in )
Height: 14.10 m (46 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 326.35 m² (3,512.8 ft²)
Empty weight: 79,700 kg (175,700 lb)
Loaded weight: 138,500 kg (305,340 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 181,500 kg (400,135 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Mikulin AM-3A turbojets, 85.75 kN (19,280 lbf) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 947 km/h (588 mph)
Range: 8,100 km (5,030 mi) ferry; 5,600 km (3,480 mi) normal range
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Wing loading: 425 kg/m² (87 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.25

Armament

Guns: 9 × 23 mm NR-23 cannon or 6 × 23 mm AM-23 cannon in ventral, dorsal and
tail barbettes. 1,100 rounds in ventral and dorsal barbettes, 2,000 rounds in
tail barbette.
Missiles: Up to four cruise missiles carried externally.
Bombs: Typically 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of internal stores. Up to 24,000 kg
(52,910 lb) could be carried, including nuclear and conventional bombs




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