Myasishchev M-4 - Variants

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.

• Subject 25 - The VVS 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 Myasishchev 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/n 8301101). 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 - 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 - 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 engines 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 - 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 - 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 Rahdioapparatoora - old engines, avionics ) - 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 Rahdioapparatoora - new engines, avionics ) - 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)

• Subject 36 - The government designation for the re-engined M-4. (NATO Bison-B)

• VM-T (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 Buran shuttle and Energiya launch vehicle components before the Antonov An-225 became available.