Molot M-4 / Mya-4 / 3M
Myasishchev 'Bison'
The Molot (Hammer) was designed as a strategic bomber, but
excessive fuel consumption of its engines and other design
shortcomings limited its range to 8,000 km, which was insufficient
for striking North American targets and returning to base.
Consequently, along with the development of an improved version of
the bomber with more fuel-efficient bypass engines and a new wing,
a program was also initiated to develop a specialized aircraft for
aerial refueling. To facilitate operational support and formation
flight in the refueling process the bomber and the tanker aircraft
were intended to have identical design and performance
characteristics.
Development of an intercontinental bomber with a strike capability
at US-territory began in the early 1950s. The governmental order of
24 March 1951 provided for the establishment of a new design bureau
headed by V.M. Myasishchev. The design bureau was in charge of
organizing and manufacturing the development of the bomber which
would have a range of 11000-12000 km, a maximum speed of 900km/h
and could carry a payload of 5000 kg. The Bison was a Four-engined,
swept-wing jet bomber with engines were buried in the wing roots.
An unusual feature was the tandem landing gear, with small
stabilising wheels at the tips of the drooping wings, and a
nosewheel leg extended at take-off to achieve the correct angle of
incidence.
Due to the fact that the high-power BD-5 engines for the aircraft
were still in the development stage, the aircraft used four AM-3A
turbojet engines developed by OKB A.A. Mikulina. The first
prototype was finished in December 1952 and carried out its' first
flight on 20 January 1953. It reached a speed of 947 km/h and a
ceiling of 12500 m. Although the bomber had a range of only 8500
km, which did not allow strikes at US territory, series production
of the M-4 bomber began in 1955 at the plant Nr. 23 in Moscow. In
July 1955, deployment of the first ten bombers started.
Bison A - M-4/2M -- The Bison A was the original version produced.
It is characterized by a greenhouse nose and a nose refueling
probe. It can be used in a free-fall strategic bombing role, but it
is used primarily as a tanker for other Bison and Bear aircraft
requiring in-flight refueling. Between 1956 and 1957, the M-4 was
equipped with more powerful and low-consumption PD-3M and
PD-3M-500A engines to increase range. And a prototype of the M-4,
the M-4A, was equipped with an air refueling system and carried out
its' first flight in 1956. Soon after series production started,
studies were conducted on equipping the M-4 with the Kh-20
air-to-surface missile to strike at targets outside of the bomber's
and to overcome air defenses. However, the landing gear did not
allow placement of the missile under the fuselage and accommodation
of the missile above the fuselage was rejected. In order to
increase the range of the M-4 bomber, it was subsequently outfitted
with new more powerful VD-7 engines. This new bomber had improved
flight characteristics and a bigger propellant capacity relative to
the M-4, with the maximum range increased up to 11850 km. An air
refueling system increasing range up to 15400 km, which made these
bombers the first strategic bomber capable of delivering its'
payload into deep enemy territory and returning. The first flight
of this bomber designated as 3M bomber took place in March 1956. At
the end of 1956 series production of the 3M aircraft started at
plant Nr.23, and deployment started in 1958.
Bison B - 3M/M-6 -- The modified 3M (M-6) bomber was created in
1955. The Bison B has the same basic airframe configuration as
Bison A, but it has a slightly larger wing, a longer nose,
increased fuel load, higher thrust an improved bomb/nav system.
Bison B is fitted with a nose refueling probe. Its primary mission
is free-fall strategic bombing, but it can conduct alternate
missions as a tanker when a removable bomb-bay refueling package is
installed.
Bison B - 3MS/M-6 -- The reliability of the VD-7 engines caused
several problems and as a result, between 1958 and 1960 the bomber
was outfitted with new RD-3M-500A engines. This bomber version is
designated as 3MS. The range of the bombers without additional fuel
tanks decreased to 9400 km.
Bison B - 3MS/M-6 -- The associated 3MS2 tanker aircraft included
refueling equipment in the bomb bay. The tanker variant used the
"drogue and probe" aerial refueling technique in which the aircraft
being refueled inserts a probe into a drogue at the end of a
flexible hose extended from the tanker. This technique was also
adopted by the U.S. Navy and the air forces of Great Britain,
France, Italy, China and other countries. In unique contrast, the
US Air Force adopted a refueling technique in which a telescoping
boom is lowered from the tail portion of the tanker and enters a
special socket on the aircraft being refueled).
Bison C - 3MD/M-6 / 3MN -- In 1960 the 3MD bomber was developed,
characterized by a slightly larger wing, a more pointed nose, a
shorter and relocated nose refueling probe, and a larger tail
radome. The Bison C has the same operational performance. Its
primary mission is free-fall strategic bombing, but it can conduct
alternate missions as a tanker when a removable bomb-bay refueling
package is installed. The 1960 modification of the VD-7 engine -
the VD-7B - provided better overall performance though smaller
thrust was developed. The bombers outfitted with these engines
received the designation 3MN. Their range was increased by 15
percent though they had a lower speed and a reduced ceiling.
Bison C - 3MN-2 -- Several 3M bombers were converted into M-4-2
tanker aircraft, and during the development of the 3MS bomber the
3MS-2 tanker aircraft was developed in parallel. The tanker
aircraft that was based on the 3MN received the designation 3MN-2.
The 3MS-2 tanker aircraft air regiment was in operational service
until 1994.
Project 28 -- To overcome air defenses, a high-altitude version of
the M-4 (project 2
was studied but not
developed prior to the in 1960 to shut down the Myasishchev
OKB.
When OKB-23 was shut down in 1960, all activities to upgrade the
Bison bombers ended. In the mid 1970s a Bison was experimentally
equipped with two Kh-22 two air-to-surface missiles but this
version was not deployed.
3M-T / BM-T "Atlant" -- In the late 1970s a single 3M bomber was
converted to transport outsized components for the Energiya-Buran
space launch system from the manufacturing facility to the Baikonur
launch site. The cargo, including propellant tanks and the Buran
orbiter itself, were placed on external mounting points located
above the fuselage. This particular aircraft had a strengthened
fuselage, a longer two-fin tail and a new flight control system.
The original designation of the aircraft was 3M-T but was
subsequently changed to BM-T "Atlant". The first flight took place
on April 29, 1981 and the first flight with freight in January,
1982. The plane carried out a total of 150 flights.
In 1963, production of the Bison bombers stopped. A total of 93
aircraft, including ten M-4 and nine 3MD13 were built. The 3M
bombers were in service with the Air Forces until the end of the
1980s, and were removed in accordance with the START-1 treaty on
offensive strategic force reductions. The 3MS2 tankers remained in
service through 1994. The three airplanes that had been converted
to transport oversized cargo are used for purposes unrelated to the
START I Treaty; and are not reconnaissance airplanes, tanker
airplanes, or jamming airplanes, and thus do not meet the
definition of the term "former heavy bomber" provided for in the
Definitions Annex to the Treaty. These airplanes are not included
within the Treaty totals, though all other airplanes of the Bison
type were considered to be former heavy bombers.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/m-4.htm
