M-60 is an unrealized project of the Soviet atomic supersonic strategic bomber developed by Myasishchev Design Bureau . It is a continuation of the M-50 bomber, the main drawback of which was the high fuel consumption (about 500 tons for flying to the USA and back to the USSR ). Therefore, it was decided to use open type nuclear power plants .
| M-60 | |
|---|---|
| Type of | supersonic strategic nuclear bomber |
| Developer | OKB Myasishcheva |
| Status | the project is closed |
| Base model | M-50 |
Content
- 1 M-60
- 2 M-60M
- 3 Closure of the project
- 4 References
M-60
Initially, the designers saw the solution to the problem in equipping the M-50 with special engines of the chief designer A. M. Lyulka . But by 1956, it became clear that such engines entailed many problems: it was necessary to protect the crew from a large amount of radiation , the aircraft had to be serviced remotely, and the environment was heavily polluted .
To protect the crew, it was supposed to use a deaf lead capsule weighing about 60 tons. Overpressure would be maintained in the capsule, and television, radar screens and periscopes were used for visual review. The control of the aircraft partially fell on the automation. Later it was proposed to completely abandon the crew , as the plane itself could take off, gain altitude, attack the target and return, but the idea was rejected.
To service such aircraft, special complexes were needed. A runway of at least 0.5 m thick was required. Engines would be installed on the aircraft automatically, just before the flight. Refueling, crew delivery, weapons suspension, etc., also had to be carried out automatically due to the large radiation background.
M-60M
Due to the complexity of such ground-based systems, the M-60M seaplane was being developed in parallel. In general, it was the same M-60, only the engines were maximally raised above the ground. A complex system of retractable hydrofoils and hydro-skis was used for take-off. These aircraft could be based not only in the southern latitudes of the USSR, but also in the northern ones. At that time it was already possible to maintain such bases in an ice-free state.
Project Closure
By 1960 , at a meeting on the prospects for the development of strategic weapons systems, it was decided to close the project, since the delivery of nuclear weapons by such a bomber was too expensive compared to other opportunities that appeared at that time: intercontinental missiles were much more profitable.
Links
- Alexander the Greek . Riding the reactor // Popular Mechanics , February 13, 2009
- Kudryavtsev V.F. Aviation nuclear power plants: the history of the development of ideas and designs. Part 2. Works in the USSR