Tupolev TB-3 - Variants

Variants

TB-3-4M-17F

The first production version, comprised about half of all TB-3s built.

TB-3-4M-34

Mikulin AM-34 engines with revised radiators, added oil coolers, several dozen built.

TB-3-4M-34R

Mikulin AM-34R engines with reduction gearboxes providing significantly improved performance, additional turret aft of the tail fin, tail wheels with hydraulic brakes, aerodynamic refinements of the wing-fuselage join and radiators, retractable wind generators.

TB-3-4AM-34RD

A series of long-range demonstration aircraft with streamlined fuselages and wheel brakes. Some aircraft had single main gear wheels 2 metres (6.6 ft) in diameter and three-blade metal propellers. Used for flights to Warsaw, Paris, and Rome in 1933–1934.

TB-3-4AM-34RN

High-altitude version with AM-34RN engines, four-blade propellers on inboard engines and two-blade on outboard, 2 metres (6.6 ft) single main wheels, turrets upgraded to ShKAS machine guns, top speed 288 kilometres per hour (156 kn; 179 mph) at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft), service ceiling 7,740 metres (25,390 ft). Tested in August–October 1935 but did not enter production as the basic TB-3 design was becoming obsolete.

TB-3-4AM-34FRN/FRNV

AM-34FRN/FRNV engines with increased power output and four-blade propellers, aerodynamic refinements including streamlined turrets, 2 metres (6.6 ft) main wheels with brakes, top speed over 300 kilometres per hour (160 kn; 190 mph).

TB-3D

Proposed variant with Charomsky AN-1 diesel engines of 750 PS (740 hp) and projected range of 4,280 km (2,310 nm, 2,660 mi), did not enter production as other performance characteristics were inferior to TB-3-4AM-34RN.

G-2

Retired TB-3s with M-17 and M-34 engines converted for freight duties with Aeroflot

ANT-6-4M-34R "Aviaarktika"

TB-3 modified for the 1937 expedition to the North Pole with enclosed cockpit, single 2 metres (6.6 ft) main wheels, three-blade metal propellers.