by Massimo Tessitori |
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In the beginning of 1940, the Archangelskiy construction bureau
in Zavod 22 aircraft factory worked hard on a perfectioning of the Tupolev
SB bomber.
Two steps of development were taken in consideration:
SB-MMN
To improve the aerodynamics of SB, a new prototype was built. This was the MMN (modified smaller lifting surface). |
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It featured:
The defensive armament was weaker than that of SB. The prototype was tested in September 1939 by NII VVS. On the whole, the result was deluding, and the only prototype, called Shchuka (pike) was allocated to Aeroflot. However, the State Commission recommanded that many of the new characteristics of the SB-MMN should have been introduced in the production of SB bombers. |
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