Soviet Aircraft IndustrySoviet aircraft industry was an essential part of the USSR’s campaign for global dominance in the twentieth century. Thanks to the thick fog of secrecy that enveloped it throughout the Cold War, it has long inspired the fascination of analysts and enthusiasts in the West; until the collapse of the USSR in 1991, details of Soviet aircraft were often a matter of conjecture. This book aims to uncover fully the mystery surrounding this topic. Drawing on original and previously unpublished information obtained directly from the former USSR, Soviet Aircraft Industry examines the unique characteristics of Soviet-designed aircraft—particularly military types, which were the cause of great concern to the West. Further, by virtue of the industry’s central role throughout Soviet history, this book provides a rare and important perspective into the broader theme of Russia’s great communist experiment. |
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aero-engine Aeroflot aircraft production airframe airliner Antonov Antonov An-2 armament armour aviation industry Beriev bomb built cannon carried cent cockpit combat aircraft crew December design bureau engine entered series production entered service equipment evacuated exported factory feet fighter fitted flew flown flying fuselage German ground attack helicopter Il-2 Sturmovik Ilyushin Ilyushin Il-2 increased interceptor June Kamov Kazan later Lavochkin long-range Mikoyan military missiles Moscow Myasishchev NATO reporting name Naval Aviation NII VVS nose operational passenger plant Polikarpov powered production aircraft programme prototype radar rear fuselage reconnaissance Red Air Force redesignated regiments replaced rocket rotor Russian series aircraft single-seat Soviet Air Force Soviet aircraft Soviet aviation Soviet Union speed Stalin Sturmovik tail test pilot trainer transport TsAGI Tumansky Tupolev Tupolev Tu-2 turbojet turboprop two-seat Ulan-Ude undercarriage variant Voronezh weapons whilst wing world’s Yakovlev Zavod